The York Center Park District is located in Unincorporated Lombard between Oakbrook Terrace, Lombard, Downers Grove and Villa Park. It is located four blocks south of Roosevelt Road and Two Blocks East of Meyer’s road. Although it is one of the smallest Park District’s in the State of Illinois serving just fewer than 4,800 residents, the district offers over 400 programs annually. The assessed valuation for the year 2004 was $214,024,740.00.

The history of the York Center Park District community can be traced back to the 1800’s. Within this time the area consisted of a few homes and farms that stretched across the open prairie. Between the 1930’s and 1950’s most of the homes in the area were built within one of the three neighborhoods of Villa Roosevelt, Congress Knolls, or York Center Community Cooperative (Co-op).

In 1958 the York Center School was completed and a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) was established. In 1967, The PTA implemented the “Lighted Schoolhouse Program.” Under this program, the school building was utilized during after-school hours for community recreation programs and activities as a part of a federal government program. The
success of the program made way for the need of a community park district.

Shortly after this, a group of Representatives from each of York Center’s geographical areas began meeting with the purpose of saving parks and open areas in the community from development. It was decided that the best move would be to determine and elect a board. Then, if the York Center Park District should be formed it would “Save the Parks” and any other open land in the area. On Election Day in September of 1971, the public voted overwhelmingly to form a park district for the York Center residents and five commissioners were elected to serve. They were: President - Charles Prazma, Secretary - Audrey Prazma, Vice-President - Harry Hasegawa, Treasurer - Lorraine Ryker, and Commissioners - Duane Robinson and Patrick Williams.

Two years later, in 1973, the opportunity arose to purchase the George Yelenich property at 16th Street and Luther Avenue. The property was comprised of a one-bedroom Brick home with two garages a developed lake and surrounding land (altogether, six acres). The residents could finally have a public facility from which to launch its recreational future.

Several years later, the possibility of securing more open land as a park and facility for the residents of the Congress Knolls and Community cooperative areas came about when York Township was involved with solving the area’s water Retention problem. The park district negotiated with the township to take over the lake and surrounding land purchased for water retention purposes to develop as a recreation area for the residents of the community. A long-term lease was negotiated for this purpose and is still enforced. As of this year, we were successful at securing an additional 30-year lease on Knolls Park.

A similar situation evolved when the Grammercy area was developed. The developer donated Park Land to the Park District, which then became Grammercy Park.

In 1993 it was decided an expansion was necessary to provide additional programs and facilities to the residents of York Center. The Park District added a new community center, which now includes a gymnasium, preschool room, kitchen facility, boardroom, front lobby, office and storage room. The entire building with the addition is just under 12,000 square feet. The Community Center is located at 1609 S. Luther in Lombard and is open Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00 daily and on Saturdays from 9:00am-Noon. The Park District Building is open year round.

A Board of Commissioners oversees the Park District. There are five members who represent the Park District. These are un-paid positions. The residents of York Center Park District elect members of the Board and their terms are up every six years. The President - Peggy Crotty, Vice President - Terry Purkart, Treasurer - Ann DeGroot, Commissioners - Julie May and Dan Summins. The York Center Park District employs five full-time employees and sixty part-time employees throughout the year.

Participants may enjoy four parks (37 ½ acres), two ponds stocked with fish, four playground areas, two picnic areas, a fitness trail, sled hill, two softball fields, sand volleyball court, soccer field and a twenty-six foot gazebo. The York Center Park District offers a wide variety of programs for all age groups preschool through adults. Over 400 programs are offered each year and three brochures are distributed annually. We encourage you to use the park district facilities, and participate in the many outings, special events and programs.

The York Center Park District is continuing to grow. The York Center Park District resident population is projected to increase approximately 13 percent over the next 4 to 5 years. The district is making every effort to secure an additional 6 to 7 acres of land. We have secured the 30-year lease with York Township for Knolls Park and we are working with the City of Oakbrook Terrace to secure money or land from future developments. We are implementing the conceptual design for a community park and improvements to the parks we have now. We look forward to many more years of preserving open space and promoting recreational opportunities for all ages.

York Center Park District new land acquisition.