Enjoy Our Parks

By Ashley South and Chris Wichmann

Knoch Knolls Park (left) 336 Knoch Knolls Road

On March 24, 1980, the Naperville Park District received 13 acres of farmland as a donation from Judge Win Knoch and Irene Knoch to be used for park purposes. Over the years, the Park District purchased the remainder of the Knoch farmland and additional woods and open land around it with the assistance of public grants, which expanded Knoch Knolls Park to approximately 218 acres. In 2021, a beneficiary of the Frank Rus Trust donated nearly 40 acres of land to expand the park. Knoch Knolls is located at “the Forks” of the East Branch and West Branch of the DuPage River and features something for everyone: a nature center with adult and youth programming, children’s playground, biking and hiking trails, picnic areas, 18-hole disc golf course, canoe/kayak launch, and a plethora of wildlife.

Burlington Square Park (right) 307 N Ellsworth Street

Reminiscent of a town square, this park was once the gateway to Naperville for those coming by train and the main thoroughfare for employees of Kroehler Manufacturing. Burlington Square was a gift in 1915 from George B. Harris, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, along with his wife, Mary. This park is the perfect spot to wait for a friend or loved one to arrive on the train: benches, perennials, trees, and shrubs provide a quiet place outside the bustling downtown. Plants chosen by the Naperville Garden Club for its Blue Star Memorial in the park include calamint, Knockout roses, and Little Lamb hydrangea.