History of the Alsip Park District
In November of 1965 a referendum was held to form the “Alsip Park District”. Voter turnout was light and the referendum passed 594 to 63. The Alsip Park District was founded on December 5, 1965. The Alsip Park District is separate from the Village of Alsip and is its own taxing body. The Board of Commissioners is primarily a policy-making body that reflects the needs and interest of the taxpayers.
The Alsip Park District is located in the Northeastern part of Illinois and provides services to the residents in the Village of Alsip. Alsip is a small residential area, located in Worth Township, County of Cook and State of Illinois. It is approximately 30 minutes south of the City of Chicago.
The Alsip Park District currently owns and operates 21 park locations occupying over 200 acres of land. There are three main facilities in which they provide programs. Their primary facility is the Apollo Recreation Center. In 1971, the Park District Board passed an ordinance for the purchase of land and development of a field house. The field house was erected in 1971. The new facility was named the “Apollo Park Field House”, later it was changed to the Apollo Recreation Center. The name was chosen because of the Apollo Missions (specifically Apollo 13), held in the late 60’s, early 70’s.
The Apollo Recreation Center consists of three indoor volleyball courts, a fitness center and a women’s circuit center, an aerobics room , a gymnastics room, three pre-school rooms, a dance room, two multipurpose rooms and two indoor basketball courts. There are also two outdoor tennis courts, a picnic shelter, playground and a bicycle/walking path located behind the Apollo Recreation Center.
In June 1988, the Alsip Park District held its grand opening for their “Aquatic Park”. The Aquatic Park features a heated “Z” shaped pool, six 25 meter lanes, a 40″ x 40″ diving well, a 1 meter and 3 meter diving board, a 32’ x 32’ wading pool with a raindrop fountain, 7000 square feet of water surface, a concession area, suntan hill and picnic area, three gazebos and a playground. In July, 2014, the Alsip Park District opened a Safari themed splash pad at the Aquatic park. The name was changed to the Sprayfari Aquatic Park. The splash pad covers 2,145 square feet of wet play area. It features a variety of water features including dumping coconuts, a barrel and swaying palm trees along with bubbling geysers and 3 character water cannons and much much more. The Sprayfari Aquatic Park also offers a variety of swim lessons. Several additions and changes have been made through the years, however the facility still maintains its summer paradise atmosphere!
The Alsip Park District also owns and operates a Nine (9) hole, par 36 layout golf course, covering 66 wooded acres. Construction of the golf course began in 1993. The golf course includes two practice Putting and Chipping greens with Sand Bunkers, thirty station lighted driving range with bunked target greens, synthetic and grass tees. It also includes three lakes and numerous sand traps. It has a full service clubhouse, including the BackNine restaurant and bar. The course has three tee yardages: Red-2,615, White-3,025, and Blue-3,215.