Dear Carol Stream Park District Residents!

Welcome to the 2022 Year in Review I am pleased to report that 2022 was a “comeback” year! After the long pause of operations in 2020, we found that 2021 wasn’t an immediate bounce-back year as we resumed operations but under the State’s health protocols We had hoped for a speedy recovery, but 2021 still seemed to be a hesitant year for many people to return to normal activities Gratefully, we saw comfort levels come back in 2022 with a steady rise in participation, so we can finally archive both 2020 and 2021 years and move forward

I am glad you, our residents, are once again comfortable participants in park district programs and that we can provide that sense of community and inclusivity wholeheartedly for you. Park District staff work diligently to develop programs and services that include ages from six months to 99 years plus, because we want to make sure that there are opportunities for everyone Our slogan of “Where Everyone is Welcome” is how we want you to feel at your Park District - Welcomed! We are a safe zone for all family and individual dynamics We strive through our programs, parks and services to offer a diverse, equal and inclusive environment that is important to our community and to the thousands of residents who use the Park District every year

Here’s a few highlights from 2022 that we are proud to present and that you can read more about in this Year in Review:

It’s been documented that many Americans have shifted their priorities around health and social activities since 2020 and are choosing to put more emphasis on a healthy lifestyle - exercising, eating right and improving mental health. Those seeking that balance have chosen our neighborhood fitness center, Fountain View Fitness In 2022, membership increased 10 7 percent, with over 130,000 total visits from members Fountain View Fitness is “Where Everyone is Welcome to Work Out ”

Another highlight from 2022 includes a resurgence in our sports leagues We had over 2,300 kids and 3,500 adults participate in in-house leagues such as baseball, basketball, dodgeball, kickball, softball, soccer and volleyball McCaslin Park Sports Complex housed 190 visiting adult softball teams over the season Adult pickleball leagues became quite popular in the community in 2022, and we are looking to offer more opportunities to picklers in 2023

Our popular preschool program filled fast in 2022, and virtual preschool ran with students from other states, such as Connecticut and Ohio! Awesome Adventure Summer Camp had several sold-out weeks that has prompted us to offer an additional “outdoor” camp in 2023 Theatre performances are strong again with two casts for each production Watching our Carol Stream kids on stage is entertaining and heartwarming The Forte Dance Company and the Springers Gymnastics Team participated in dance and gymnastics competitions to receive many achievement awards The Dolphins Swim Team was able to compete again in large meets and bring home some medals We are proud of all our kids!

Major renovations began immediately in 2022 on Coral Cove Water Park as soon as it closed in early August, and we can now look forward to an incredible 2023 season! These renovations have given the water park more efficient operating systems and longevity for the years to come Coyote Crossing Mini Golf, with its themed days, pop-up days, and event specials saw about 13,700 rounds played in 2022.

In Parks news, we resurfaced trails and playgrounds to make accessibility and mobility easier for all residents who use them We have projects underway in which we’ve received grants to help funding, many of which will be in progress during 2023, such as Community and Walter Parks In 2022 we received a grant from Project Wingspan to increase native plants within the Bark Park to alleviate flooding in a low-lying area

Read about these projects and more in this Year in Review It was with your help that we made this comeback in 2022thank you!

And remember, we are here, we are open, and we welcome you fully - come out and recreate!

Jim Reuter Executive Director