Special Events

If you are looking for a great facility for your group’s next camping outing, look no further!  Acquired from W.D. Boyce Council of the Scouts BSA of America, Camp Wokanda encompasses over 300 acres of woodland area with a lake for fishing and various camping amenities.  Whether you like to rough it or camp with a little more comfort, Camp Wokanda will fit the bill!  Within the Camp there is a dining hall, sleeping cabins, program buildings, and more.  The Camp also offers programming such as naturalist tours and environmental educations for interested groups.

Wokanda is a great location for a family reunion, wedding or simply a weekend unplugged.

Camp Wokanda Layout

Do you enjoy bird watching or hiking?  Forest Park Nature Center is for you!  Forest Park Nature Center offers seven miles of trails for hiking and nature enjoyment and is home to a gift shop that carries bird feeding and hiking necessities.  Interested in learning more about nature and all that it entails?  Forest Park Nature Center has classes for adults and children alike, covering topics from bats to bugs and everything in between.  Guided hiking tours are also available.

Forest Park Nature Center Layout

Looking to splish and splash this summer?! Gwynn is the place for outdoor swimming fun! The facility offers a zero depth pool, a water slide, a diving well, and a wet sand play area.

Effective Thursday, June 16th, Gwynn Family Aquatic Center will be open from Monday-Friday on the following set schedule:

• 12-3pm for children 0-12, with a parent/guardian 18 and over. Children must be supervised and accompanied by their parent the whole visit. Adults are invited to swim during this timeframe too. Summer camps who use the aquatic center are encouraged to come during this timeframe.
• 3:30-5pm for children and adults 12+

If you have any questions, please call (309) 682-1200. The facility will close for the season on August 2, 2022.

If you are looking for a great space for you or your family to spend some time on the South Side of Peoria, head over to the Logan Recreation Center!  The inside of the Rec Center is filled with great space including a lounge with computer access available and a multi-purpose recreation room.  Logan Recreation Center also has after-school programs that offer homework help and many fun sporting and recreational activities! Logan Recreation Center is located in Logan Park and has a slew of outdoor activity areas including three outdoor lighted basketball courts, a soccer field, a kickball area, picnic areas, a water playground/splash pad, and more!

Logan Park Layout

Whether you love to garden or just appreciate the beauty of various flora from around the globe, Luthy Botanical Garden is the spot for you.  Spread across over 5 acres in Glen Oak Park, Luthy is home to a tropical conservatory, a theme garden, and seasonal shows, including the Poinsettia Show throughout November and December.  The sprawling garden is also a beautiful background for weddings, showers, or your next corporate event!  Photographers are always welcome at the Gardens – for fees and other information contact [email protected].

Even when the weather outside isn’t frightful, the Peoria Park District offers indoor ice skating for people of all ages at Owens Recreation Center!  Owens Center features two full-size NHL rinks which are used for private rentals, classes, and public open skate times.  Public skate passes and skate rental are available!

Visit us on Facebook for the most up to date information.

The Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum is a hands-on, interactive space featuring six exhibits allowing children to play, explore, imagine, and create. Splash in the water table, send balls through wind tubes, become a paleontologist, and more!  The PlayHouse was created in collaboration with the Junior League of Peoria and Peoria Zoological Society, and opened in 2015. It is located in historic Glen Oak Park, near Peoria Zoo and Luthy Botanical Garden, providing a full-day destination for families in our region.

Summer 2021 hours may be limited; learn more here.

To book a field trip during 2021, please email [email protected] for more information.

The Peoria RiverFront really does have something for everyone, especially during the summer season!  The Peoria Park District is excited that the RiverFront has become a prime location for outdoor concerts, festivals, and gatherings.  Come explore one of the many cultural festivals held on the Riverfront, like India Fest, Soul Fest, Irish Fest, Oktoberfest, Fine Art Fair and Fiesta in el Rio!  Whatever fits your fancy, the RiverFront is sure to have something fun for you and your family or friends this summer.

RiverFront Park Layout

Lions and tigers and giraffes, oh my!  The Peoria Park District is proud to have the Peoria Zoo as one of the great facilities available to people of all ages who live, work, and play in Peoria.  The Zoo is home to unique animals from all over the world and is open to the public 360 days a year.  Even during the winter, animal lovers can visit the Zoo to see Amur tigers and Sichuan takins frolicking in the snow!  The Zoo also offers many neat behind-the-scene tours and is a great place to host birthday parties, weddings, and corporate events.

Proctor Center is a year-round recreational facility the offers two gyms, auditorium with stage, a lounge area with television, weight room, arts & crafts room, game room, outdoor basketball courts, playground, and a play field area.

The splashpad is open from 11am-7pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

For 2022, the pool is open from noon-4pm, Monday – Friday starting June 6 and closing July 29, 2022. Look for changes or closures on the Proctor Facebook page.