Every participant who registers for the Barnyard Dash Virtual 5K will ultimately provide a free meal to a local worker on the frontline of defense against COVID-19. That’s the headline. Here’s the backstory. In the spirit of offering a healthy outlet for residents to enjoy during the “new normal,” staff at Blackberry Farm began brainstorming… Read More

Ever participated in an event strictly to support the cause, only to realize, Hey, that was really worth my time … ? That’s exactly what Fox Valley Park District officials are hoping to achieve with our Monster Mask Virtual 5K, an event in which portions of the proceeds will benefit Hesed House, the state’s second-largest… Read More

Press Release – May 6, 2021 AURORA – Due to the level of uncertainty that remains this spring, especially when events require planning and preparations months ahead, the Fox Valley Park District has canceled the Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race, originally scheduled for early June. 2021 marks the fourth-consecutive year the Mid-Am has remained ashore,… Read More

Keep your feet on the ground, but your eyes on the stars. It’s a quote made famous by Theodore Roosevelt during a speech in 1900 in Chicago. Nick Sargis has been repeating it half the summer. “We lived through so much darkness and we need to know that better days are ahead,” said Sargis, the… Read More

Parker’s Foundation Grant Program Through this program, residents may apply for grant funds to help cover the fees of our core programs, such as Preschool and Summer Camps. Separate from our program scholarships, which award qualified participants up to $160 individually each year, Parker’s Foundation Grant Program helps bridge the gap to provide access for… Read More

Every year around this time, when the white blanket gets swapped with the emerald carpet, staff at Red Oak Nature Center calls on the community to assist with a sticky situation. The evidence is pretty much the same every March, really. “The snowshoes are put away, trail use is increasing, we’ve got more animal sightings… Read More

It’s a late-winter morning, quiet and dreary, when a Fox Fitness member busts through the silence and hustles up the stairs that curl toward the upper level of the Vaughan Athletic Center. Clearly in a rush, Betsy Cortes never breaks stride when she waves and shouts to a staff member: “Good morning! I’m late and… Read More

Join us for the World's Largest Swim Lesson teaching people of all ages the importance of being able to swim. Choose Vaughan Athletic Center on June 23 or Splash Country Water Park on June 24. All ages Free!… Read More

Let’s start with some team names, which are always fun: Hasselhoff’s Hitmen, The Peanut Gallery, Sluggin N Chuggin, Wasted Talent. Then there’s the jerseys, where no fabric, pattern or color scheme is considered foul territory. (In fact, the real challenge is finding a look that hasn’t been tried.) And, lastly, let’s hear from a guy… Read More

FREE in our parking lot! The park will not be open during this event. Climb, pose and play in a variety of vehicles in the back parking lot of Blackberry Farm. Vehicles may include Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, bulldozers, tractors, and more! All ages FREE… Read More