DeKalb Park District

The DeKalb Park District was established in 1935 through the initiative of members of the League of Women Voters, to address the need for a public swimming pool in the community. The City of DeKalb gave the first four parks to the District: Annies Woods, Huntley Park, Liberty Park, and Hopkins Park. By 1960, the District had eight parks and by 1970 twelve. Initially the main services provided focused on swimming and use of the outdoor parks. But as lifestyles changed, so did the District. In the mid 1960s the City gave the Ellwood House mansion to the District. In 1970, the park district hired its first full time executive director and by 1980 the district had pool, acquired Haish Gymnasium and Buena Vista, a nine-hole golf course. In 1985, the park district purchased River Heights, a second nine-hole golf course, which was later developed into an 18-hole course. New parks were acquired as conservation areas in order to preserve floodplain lands and wildlife habitat. O...