District News

Mt. Prospect Park District Celebrates 70 Years!

In June 2025, the Mount Prospect Park District celebrates 70 years of excellence in parks and recreation. With a mission to “provide exceptional parks and recreation experiences that enrich the quality of life for present and future generations,” the District has focused on looking forward since 2018 with the execution and completion of the “Mapping Our Future” Strategic Plan. A Comprehensive Master Plan was completed in 2022 leading to a successful $46.2 million bond referendum in November 2024. The successful referendum enables the District to replace the Lions Recreation Center and Big Surf Pool with added improvements to Lions Memorial Park and RecPlex. 

Established in 1955, the boundaries of the District remain approximately the same today. MPPD serves the residents of most of Mount Prospect and parts of Des Plaines, Arlington Heights and Elk Grove Village covering over 11 square miles.

Growth has continued over the last 10 years. The redesign and renovation of the Mt. Prospect Golf Club was completed in 2015. The District focused on playground safety and renovation and completed construction of the new Dara James Park and Einstein playgrounds in Des Plaines. Both the Clearwater and WeGo Playgrounds were replaced in recent years. Busse Park was renovated to add fully accessible features while Kopp Park added new fun features to engage more children in this heavily populated area. Einstein Park Phase 2 was also completed.

Meanwhile, the District purchased the properties at 401 and 411 Algonquin Road in Des Plaines for future development and updated the banquet facilities and outdoor area at Friendship Park Conservatory. Across town, the Central Community Center inline skating rink was converted to a turf field and the Devonshire & Frost Playgrounds were renovated. A record crowd turned out to support the renovation of the Emerson Park Playground in a neighborhood heavily populated with young children. In the summer of 2024, an eagerly anticipated Weller Creek Playground was built and dedicated to the residents of the Weller Creek neighborhood. Recently, all of the children from Lions Park School joined the District in a rededication of a renovated Lions Park Playground; a collaboration between the Village of Mount Prospect, District 57 andT the Mt. Prospect Park District. Finally, this coming May, the District will celebrate the renovated Owen Park Playground in the St. Paul Lutheran Church neighborhood. 

The 2022 Comprehensive Master Plan underscored the District theme to “elevate Mt. Prospect Park District to exceed public expectations.” As the District reviews all of the accomplishments of the last decade, we find a renewed focus on striving to exceed public expectations once again. Check out mppd.org for additional and updated information on the Mt. Prospect Park District.