Parks

Two playgrounds, splash pad & riverfront · Kankakee

The Kankakee Valley Park District's home park on the Kankakee River: two playgrounds, a splash pad, the Don Palzer Band Shell, walking trails, river frontage with boat access, a fishing quarry, a meditation garden, restrooms and a rentable pavilion and building. The park district office is here too.

10.5-mile bike trail · Rock Creek canyon hike · Bourbonnais

Four thousand acres along eleven miles of the Kankakee River, six miles northwest of Kankakee. The bike trail starts at the Davis Creek Area and runs 10.5 miles — a linear stretch along the river plus a loop on the west end of the park. The Rock Creek Trail is the hike everyone comes for: about three miles along limestone canyon walls to a small waterfall. Hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails are on the north side of the river; horse and snowmobile trails are on the south side.

Playground, fishing ponds & walking paths at the ballpark · Bradley

The 127-acre sports complex east of Bradley Commons off Route 50, opened in May 2025 with sixteen turf baseball and softball diamonds. Beyond the fields the grounds are family territory: a children's playground, fishing ponds, walking paths, batting cages, bocce, futsal and yard games, plus a restaurant and concessions on game days.

4 miles of paved trail · prairie, woods & riverbank · Bourbonnais

Bourbonnais Township Park District's flagship park: about four miles of paved trail loop through restored prairie, woodland and along the banks of the Kankakee River, good for bikes, strollers and inline skates. The trail ties into the riverfront trail system toward Bradley and Kankakee. Off the trail there is a playground, farm animals, zip lines, a ninja course and the Exploration Station children's museum.

Fenced neighborhood playground off Kennedy Drive · Bradley

A long, narrow neighborhood park off Kennedy Drive that is fenced almost all the way around — one entrance on Kennedy and a few along the sides. Home to the blue-and-orange caterpillar play structure, a pavilion and picnic tables.

Paved riverfront trail from River Road Park · Kankakee

The Kankakee Valley Park District's paved trail along the south bank of the Kankakee River. It starts at River Road Park (the ball diamonds beside Splash Valley) and runs west past Kankakee Community College, the Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve and the Shapiro Developmental Center to Hawkins and Water Streets. At the college it connects with the Gar Creek Trail. Part of the county's Riverfront Trailways, more than ten miles of riverside trail in all.

Splash pad, playground loop & ball diamonds · Bradley

Bradley's largest park at fifteen acres, rebuilt in a $3.5 million overhaul that opened in May 2025. The signature piece is a 6,000-square-foot fenced splash pad with family changing rooms and staff on duty (open since June 2025), alongside a playground ringed by a walking path, baseball and softball diamonds and a covered pavilion (rental for Bradley residents through the village).

¾-mile creek-to-river trail · beside KCC on River Road · Kankakee

A Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve site on River Road about half a mile east of Route 45, next to Kankakee Community College. The three-quarter-mile trail starts at a 16-acre restored tallgrass prairie (planted in 1992), follows Gar Creek through oak woodland and drops to the banks of the Kankakee River, where it joins the Riverfront Trail. Trailhead parking is on River Road beside the college.

Village park · Herscher

A Village of Herscher park. Pavilions at village parks can be reserved through Village Hall, (815) 426-2131; parks are open 6 am to 10:30 pm May through September and until 8:30 pm the rest of the year.

Paved park loop & village path network · Manteno

The walking path around Manteno's 66-acre Legacy Park, with the North Walking Path linking it to Eddie Reed Park about a half mile away. The village publishes a map of its whole bike-and-walking path network, which also connects Wright Park to Heritage Park. Splash pad, gazebo and picnic grove at the park itself.

Neighborhood playground & basketball court · Bourbonnais

The Belle Aire neighborhood's park: playground, open green space, a walking path and a basketball court.

Small fenced neighborhood playground · Bourbonnais

A narrow neighborhood park with chain-link fence on three sides, a playground and raised flower beds.

Fully fenced playground with a toddler side · Bourbonnais

A fully enclosed playground (three open entrances) with separate play areas for kids under and over five.

Playground beside the Little League fields · Bourbonnais

A mostly fenced playground with a climbing wall and slides, next to three Little League baseball fields.

Downtown gathering space & event lawn · Bourbonnais

The village's community gathering space at Goselin Park on Main Street NW — an event lawn and stage that host the Friendship Festival, concerts and village events, with a playground and walking paths.

Log-cabin playground on an island in the river · Momence

Thirty wooded acres between two channels of the Kankakee River, reached from Mill Street between the Dixie Highway bridges or by the walkbridge at the east end of Washington Street. A log-cabin-style playground with a bridge, climbing wall and five slides, a band shell, pavilions, a fieldhouse, an accessible fishing pavilion, picnic and grill areas and wide-open lawns. Home of the Gladiolus Festival.

Downtown park with the jumping pillow · Manteno

Manteno's downtown park on Second Street: the inflatable jumping pillow (open daily 10 am to 10 pm in season; riders 54" and under until 7 pm, all ages after), a zip line, a rotating climber, a fire pit and a lighted water feature. Concerts, yoga, Cruisin' the Square and the village Christmas celebration happen here.

Splash pad, skate rink & walking path · Manteno

Manteno's largest park, 66 acres shared by the village and Manteno Township: a splash pad (Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 am to 8 pm), a walking path, football/soccer and softball fields, a skate rink used year-round for roller blades and ice skates, and a picnic grove with a gazebo.