Lords Park — Attraction in Hanover Township

Right next to the Elgin public museum ( FYI, it’s not free but cheep and has AC) and little free zoo and water park ( kinda pricy ) but it’s in view so I mention to grown ups of lil to beware, cause we didn’t bring our suits that day, “good times” … lots of space to run and play sprawling grounds. Also a security guard was present on the ground in the parking lot area or have been every time I’ve been which was comforting the time we seemed to be one of the few people there that day as it’s quite a large area and butts right up to area homes. Great park could use better or more clearly marked facilities , restrooms and water fountains.

Also on an interesting side note… they had some folks kinda off by the zoo entrance which butts up to the park and courts area who were there “peddling” their faith in the parking lot. I’m not downing or demonizing religions, this world needs something, peoples are hurting and we all desperately needs peace, but not too many religions practice what they preach. So I choose to turn the other cheek, no harm to me, but just speak to let you know. As they were non-confrontational folks we saw didn’t overtly attempt to speak to us ( just two quiet ladies standing by their kart ) but seen them there twice now with a rack of brochures about Jesus I believe. I have my faith ( I’m all good) just thought to share as I’ve not come...

This is one of the jewels of Elgin. The oak groves preserved by both this east-side park, and its sister on the west side (Wing Park), are simply gorgeous.

There are two playgrounds in the more natural side of the park, two tennis court areas, and one basketball court. The distinct surprise is the small animal pens that include several bison (that was a shock when I found that in college). There is also a more cultivated side of the park that has a duck pond fronting a rental-able assembly building - all very picturesque.

But we keep coming back for the trees and the rolling landscape, and the fact that my kids run with their cross country club here (the Elgin Sharks); for this it is perfection. We recently hosted a cross country meet here and it could not have been more stunning. Picture evidence included.

Am both thankful and proud of how well the City of Elgin has preserved there oak grove areas on the east and the west. Albeit at different scales, these parks are on par with Central Park...

The park is not worth going..not maintained at all. It was nice to see a buffolo but he was way too far away and just sat in a corner. Buffolo should be out on open land prarie mountain areas. The other 2 apparently died some time ago..I wonder why? Nothing too interesting to see. The ponds you can walk around...wow...they are just completely trashed. Garbage in the water, filth, branches, mud everywhere. I can imagine how pretty this was once but, not anymore. It's all just trashed and not maintained. All up and down the sidewalks are full of goose poop. You can smell a funny smell as you walk, wasn't sure if its the poop or filth of the water or both. The poop is smashed on the sidewalks from people walking. It's never picked up or cleaned up...its pretty disgusting. Maintenance means more than just cutting the grass. Such a...