Planning Ahead: EP Recreation Department In Full Swing

The Evergreen Park Recreation Department is not unlike the jugglers that you might have seen at the circus or on TV. There are always three or four plates spinning in the air, or three or four balls in motion at one given time.

Fresh off the Christmas holidays…or even before. . .the team of three in the small office at the Community Center was already laying the groundwork for events coming within two, four, or even eight months ahead.

The quarterly Adult Paint and Sip event on the evening of Thursday, January 11, was very successful. A good crowd of beginning artists and seasoned hobbyists enjoyed a relaxing evening of creativity and fellowship.

In the meantime, the department has already rolled out a bevy of youth sport programs, many of them taking place at the newly renovated MapleWell Center at 3450 W. Maple, the site of the former Park Lane / Jacob’s Well Church.

The Recreation Department has long been home to a very cherished pre-school program. On the evening of Wednesday, January 24, they hosted a PreSchool Open House for prospective students of the 2024-2025 school year. And if you missed it, no worry. . .registration for the preschool program is open now.

The Daniel Capuano Ice Rink at Yukich Field, 89th and Kedzie, is available for open skate and hockey during the winter months. Weekly hours are posted on the Rec Department’s Facebook page (Evergreen Park Recreation), and on the village website at www.evergreenpark-ill.com. Would you like to book the ice rink for a private party? Give them a call at (708) 229-3373.

The 3rd Annual Village of Evergreen Park Capuano Classic (4 on 4 Hockey Tournament) takes place over two days, Saturday 2/24 and Sunday 2/25) and they are still looking for players age 21+.

And a full day of open skate will be available to you on Saturday, February 3 when the Annual Flake Fest takes place. A free one-hour hockey “Learn To Skate” clinic begins at 12:30pm, and Free open skate begins at 2pm, lasting for four hours…and Baracco’s will be available onsite for pizza!

While all this is going on, the friendly trio….Jill, Josie and Kelly…are busy planning the summer concerts at the parks (including a newly added small ensemble concert by the City Lights Orchestra, more info on that later).

And of course there is a little thing called the Independence Day Parade and Fireworks. Even though it is six and a half months away, the pens are already being put to paper!

Registering for any Recreation Department program could not be easier. A full program book of activities is available on the website and is updated frequently. And you can register online at www.eprec.recdesk.com.

Or...you can always come to the Community Center and catch up with these friendly folks, face to face. Even with all the strides forward into the digital world, we will never lose the personal touch with our neighbors.