5 Neighborhood Park Gems

We all know about Island Park and Wheeler Park and Peck Farm Park—Geneva planners and Park District leaders through the years gave us a lasting legacy with these big, beautiful open spaces that serve thousands of people every year.

But planners also deserve kudos for Geneva's abundance of neighborhood parks. There are 57 Geneva parks in all, and you can see a full list by visiting www.genevaparks.org and clicking on "Parks" on the top right side of the home page.

Another fun fact is that Geneva Park District partners with Geneva School District 304 to create a little neighborhood park at every elementary school. Those types of intergovernmental partnerships are rare, and there are obvious benefits—tax dollars go further and school students, neighborhood kids and parents have more places to play.

But enough of the Pollyanna praising of past politicos, as Spiro Agnew might have said. In wandering around the city for the past four weeks or so, Geneva Patch has spotted more than a few wonderful little (sometimes underutilized) parks that might be worth your while to explore. Here are five, in no particular order:

1. Moore Park "Sprayground" — The whole park qualifies, of course, but the "sprayground" is just plain fun. It's a great place to bring the family on a hot day, pack a picnic lunch and some beach towels and let the (younger) kids go to town. Nice playground and bike/walking path, too. The Geneva pool's last day is Sunday (Aug. 29) but the sprayground keeps spraying until Sept. 6.

Acres: 13.7

Location: 877 Geneva Drive, just off East Side Drive across from Good Templar Park

Sprayground hours: 10 a.m-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6p.m. Friday-Sunday

2. Elm Park — This was the park that actually inspired this little story. Parents stop by and have picnics there. Beautiful, mature trees frame the baseball field and a playground. The playground has real sand in the sandbox and the play equipment with a "treehouse" design is just fun. There's also easy access from the bike trail that runs between Oak Hill Cemetery and Good Templar Park.

Acres: 4.5

Location: Access off of Elm Avenue, a block from Division Street

3. Sandholm Woods — Park folks call this one a "discovery," and they couldn't be more right.  You might decide to explore Sandholm Woods after visiting Esping Park, which is right down the street. Esping Park could easily rank in the top five gems, but we're so loaded on East Side parks we thought it best to lump it in with Sandholm Woods.

If Esping is the fun, outgoing big brother, the "woods" is the quiet, beautiful little sister, a passive park featuring circa-2009 enhancements including a maze constructed of natural elements, a quarter-mile concrete walking path, a contemplative garden area with sittings walls, beautiful vine tunnels and a variety of climbing rocks that are perfect for children to play on.

At the entrance to the park, there is also a set of iron gates that have been refurbished from the original construction at Island Park. There are parking spaces, too, so you don't have to park in the street.

Acres: 5.5

Location: 34 Sandholm St.

4. Randall Square Park — Geneva Patch stumbled across Randall Square Park after a visit to Friendship Station Preschool. It's one of those parks tucked inside a neighborhood, far enough from a connector street that you probably wouldn't find it unless you lived nearby.

But Geneva Patch talked to a woman who had taken her son there to play, and the two of them had the park all to themselves. "It's beautiful. We come here all the time," she said. And so it made the list. Playground equipment, a baseball backstop, soccer field, park benches and a little canopy for some shaded picnic opportunities make Randall Square Park a very pleasant place to be.

Acres: 6.3

Location: 2818 Blackman Road, but the editor isn't sure how he got there

5. Old Mill Park — Old Mill Park is another one of our sneaky gems. You pretty much get Island Park, Bennett Park and the "Good Templar Park Acquisition" park thrown into the deal, if you're willing to walk along the path by the river.

Old Mill, of course, is the location of the Old Mill building on the East Side, which burned down in the 1971. The park showcases the remnant ironwork and wheel gears salvaged from the building, now turned into a sculpture. (An interpretive sign describes the history of the site.)

Old Mill is a popular destination for lunch, and access is easy from the parking lot off State Street or the bike trail under the bridge. Plenty of fishing opportunities, as well.

Acres: 1.2

Location: 3 E. State St., on the river next to Mill Race Cyclery 

Of course, we'd be remiss not to credit Parks Superintendent Larry Gabriel and Marketing Supervisor Traci Wicks for their suggestions and input.

"Every park site has its own features and personality," Gabriel said. "Discovering a new site is like making a new friend."

Check out Geneva Patch's excellent listings for more on the big three parks.

One final note: Don't blame anybody but the Geneva Patch editor if you don't like these picks or think other parks should have been mentioned.

GOT YOUR OWN FAVORITE GENEVA PARK? WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT! Comment below or send an e-mail to rickn@patch.com.