Information
Landmark: Glen Oak ParkCity: Peoria
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
Glen Oak Park, Peoria, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
Glen Oak Park sits at 2218 North Prospect Road in Peoria, Illinois, and stretches across about 117 acres of city green space, where oak trees throw long shadows over the walking paths.First.Glen Oak Park ranks among Peoria’s biggest and most varied, with walking trails shaded by old oaks, playgrounds, museums, and programs that mix recreation, culture, and learning in a setting that feels close to nature.It’s a lively gathering spot where families picnic under shady trees, neighbors meet for workouts, and visitors enjoy music, art, or simply a quiet place to unwind.The park blends lush gardens, sparkling fountains, winding trails, lively playgrounds, and standout spots like the Peoria Zoo and the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum, making it a place families and visitors return to in every season.Two.The Peoria Zoo’s main draws and amenities span about 14 acres, tucked inside the park where you might catch the faint scent of fresh-cut grass.Over a hundred species roam here-from towering giraffes and roaring lions to sleek Siberian tigers, bouncing wallabies, and slow-moving sloths.Explore themed exhibits like Africa!, where drums echo in the distance, the Australia Walk-About, the Asian Trail, the lush Tropics Building, and the Conservation Center.Visitors can enjoy daily keeper talks, watch animals being fed, join lively hands-on presentations, and take in seasonal highlights like the Glow Wild Lantern Festival, where lanterns shimmer against the night sky.We’re open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the final tickets sold at 4:30 sharp.At the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum, kids dive into hands‑on exhibits that spark curiosity, fuel creativity, and turn learning into play-whether they’re building with blocks or painting bright swirls of color.Explore hands-on zones-from paint-splattered art studios to buzzing science corners and whimsical play spaces.We’re open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the doors swinging wide right at ten.Tickets are $10 each for anyone aged one or older.Strollers can’t come inside, but wheelchairs are welcome-there’s a smooth ramp at the entrance.Luthy Botanical Garden spreads across five acres of tended blooms and winding paths in Glen Oak Park.You’ll find a tropical conservatory, bursts of seasonal flowers outdoors, and themed spaces like a rose garden and one filled with fragrant herbs.Entrance is free, though we’re grateful for any donation-even the jingle of a few coins.We offer guided tours by appointment, hands-on horticulture workshops, and seasonal events that might include autumn garden walks or spring planting days.Rotary Adventure Grove is an inclusive, nature‑themed playground where kids of all abilities can play, from racing over wooden bridges to digging in the cool sand.The playground offers easy-to-reach play structures, quiet sensory-friendly gear, and shady trees that invite kids to explore and imagine.It opened in September 2024, taking the place of the old wooden playground where the boards smelled faintly of pine.Glen Oak Amphitheatre is an open-air spot where the sound of guitars carries across the lawn, hosting concerts, festivals, community gatherings, and even private parties.Seating’s a mix of open lawn and a few fixed seats-think grass under your feet or a sturdy bench.The park comes alive with regular cultural gatherings and music nights, from lively drum circles to spirited folk dances.Glen Oak Lagoon is a peaceful 3-acre fishing spot, where the water ripples over schools of largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and bullhead catfish.You’ll find easy-to-reach fishing spots along the shore, a few sturdy benches, and winding paths shaded by tall trees.They host the Annual Clyde West Fishing Derby here, along with urban fishing clinics where you can feel the snap of the line in your hands.Accessibility: You can roll right up to the water’s edge-the whole shoreline is built for wheelchairs.Three.Recreational Amenities – Pickleball Courts: eight well-marked courts where you can rally with friends or dive into fast-paced tournament play.We’re open from sunrise until 11 p.m., though during busy hours you might have to cut your game short-especially when the courts echo with the sound of constant volleys.Tennis courts include six hard surfaces, four of them lit so you can play under the glow of tall lamps at night, and they follow the same rules as the pickleball courts.The park offers smooth, paved paths for walking or biking, with stretches that wind through the Rock Island Greenway under the shade of tall oaks.The trails link into nearby parks and city streets, giving you the choice of a slow, quiet stroll or a brisk workout past shop windows and rustling trees.Soccer Fields: There aren’t any permanent ones, but wide stretches of green are open for seasonal play, with temporary goals set up like bright nets in the grass.Picnic areas offer plenty of tables and covered shelters, perfect for family get‑togethers or group events under the shade.Playgrounds: Beyond Rotary Adventure Grove, you’ll find several smaller play areas scattered through the park, including one with bright red swings near the pond.You’ll find plenty of spotless, well-kept restrooms scattered across the park, from near the picnic tables to beside the main trail.Number four.Accessibility & Visitor Information: The park’s paths and facilities welcome wheelchair users, with smooth pavement underfoot and sturdy ramps wherever they’re needed.You can bring your service animal-whether it’s a guide dog or another trained helper-inside.We’re happy to have your pets here-just keep them on a leash and pick up after them, even if it’s a muddy paw print on the sidewalk.Food & Beverages: You’re welcome to bring your own snacks or lunch and enjoy them at one of the shaded picnic tables.A few nearby concessions and small cafés offer cold drinks and quick snacks.You’ll find plenty of parking close to the main attractions-right by the zoo gates, beside the museum steps, and near the garden’s entrance.Security officers from the Peoria Park District, along with local police, patrol the park, their radios crackling as they work to keep visitors safe.Five.Annual Events & Programs: Glow Wild, the lantern festival that lights up the zoo each fall.The Clyde West Fishing Derby kicks off at Glen Oak Lagoon, where the water ripples under the morning sun.Local festivals that mark the seasons, lively fitness classes, and hands-on workshops where you might smell fresh paint or hear laughter.The park district, along with local partners, offers regular programs on nature, conservation, the arts, and fitness-whether it’s a morning birdwatching walk or an evening painting class under the trees.You can book picnic shelters, the amphitheater, or other spaces for birthdays, family reunions, corporate gatherings, or weddings-perfect for a sunny afternoon with tables under the trees.Glen Oak Park anchors Peoria’s outdoor and cultural scene, from shaded picnic lawns to summer concerts under the stars.It mixes lush scenery with playgrounds and picnic spots, making it a destination locals and visitors both love.You can wander past bright parrots, let the kids dive into hands‑on exhibits, meander through flower‑filled gardens, cast a line into the water, or just stretch out under the sun-Glen Oak Park makes it easy to enjoy it all, any season of the year.
