2022 Year in Review

January 13, 2022

From projects and construction, to new events and special anniversaries, 2022 was packed with great memories…

Pop-Up Snowman Party – February 4, 2022
Families and friends got together at Hibbard Park for a pop-up snow day. We made snowfolk, sipped cocoa and had a fantastic afternoon playing in the fresh powder! Watch for the return of this awesome community snow day in 2023!

St. Pathy’s Stroll/Cart Path/100 years – March 12, 2022
A chilly morning didn’t stop the fun! Wilmette Golf Club kicked off their 100-Year Anniversary celebration and the completion of the continuous golf cart path with St. Pathy’s Stroll. Attendees enjoyed delicious snacks generously provided by the The Lawn, exclusive anniversary swag and a walk down the Path to the Past.

Polar Plunge 2022 – March 20, 2022
We were honored to host the 2022 Special Olympics of Illinois Polar Plunge at Gillson Beach last year! Thanks to your generosity and the dedication of our plungers, the Plunge raised over $52,000 in 2022. Help us reach our goals this year for the 2023 Polar Plunge! Learn more here.

CRC Electric car charging station – April 8, 2022
The Wilmette Park District proudly announced the installation of the FIRST PUBLIC CHARGING STATION IN ALL OF WILMETTE, right at our very own Community Recreation Center! The charging station was installed in the east parking lot, and can serve two vehicles at one time. This service is completely free – as a courtesy to our visitors.

Yankee Doodle Dash 2022 – July 3, 2022
On the morning July 3, the Yankee Doodle Dash filled the streets of Wilmette with over 550 runners! It was our biggest 5K in history and we were thrilled to see such an amazing turnout. It was a beautiful start to the Independence Day Celebration. Start training for 2023!

Fun & Fireworks – July 3, 2022
It seemed that the entire community came out to enjoy our Fun & Fireworks event this summer! We had fabulous entertainment from Blooze Brothers, Jessie White Tumblers and Good Clean Fun, followed by the spectacular fireworks show!

Maple Park Renovation & Ribbon Cutting – August 8, 2022
To commemorate the renovation of the Maple Park Playground, we hosted a special ribbon cutting and official opening day. Families were able to pay on the new equipment and take part in some maple-themes arts and crafts, and enjoy some maple treats to boot!

Centennial 50th/Keep Your Day Job – August 13, 2022
The Centennial Recreation Complex reach its 50^th Anniversary in 2022 and held a series of special events to mark the occasion! Most memorable of the celebrations was the Keep Your Day Job Music Festival. Local garage bands rocked the parking lot while visitors socialized and enjoyed the free and funky tunes!

Ouilmette Foundation Beach Bash – August 20, 2022
The Ouilmette Foundation’s annual Beach Bash had another successful year. Patrons celebrated with an evening of live music, food, drinks, a beachside bonfire and memories to last a lifetime.

Golf Club Restaurant renovation – Summer 2022
The Wilmette Golf Club restaurant, The Lawn, received a beautiful makeover with a new bar, stylish furniture, and a fresh new aesthetic to breathe life into the space. Completed and opened for business in summer 2022, if you haven’t enjoyed a meal here yet, you’re definitely missing out!

CFC upgrades – September-October, 2022
The Center Fitness Club received some very special upgrades last fall. In addition to the annual studio floor resurfacing, the strength training space was rearranged to maximize the free-weight area, an all-new Functional Training Studio was constructed by taking down the wall dividing two smaller studios, and specialized new equipment was installed in the Functional Training Studio to enhance the fitness routines of our patrons.

Flappers & Fairways – September 30, 2022
Closing the 100^th Anniversary season, the Wilmette Golf Club held a special golf outing event that concluded with a 1920’s themed after party at The Lawn. Attendees were encouraged to wear period-apparel and kick back with a cocktail and delicious hors d’oeuvres as a live jazz band played into the night.

Project Parks & Play is launched – October 5, 2022
The Wilmette Park District began our Comprehensive and Strategic Planning process, Project Parks and Play: Explore the Possibilities, to help plan the future of our parks, facilities, recreational activities and operations to best meet future needs of the Wilmette community. Click here to learn about the project and keep up to date on the latest updates!

Wicked Wilmette – October 22, 2022
We know how much our community loves Halloween, and we were thankful to be able to host a large celebration once again! Wicked Wilmette included a Trick or Treat Trail, pumpkin patch with decorating stations, bounce houses, a hay maze, face painting, music and more.

Community Playfields complete (fitness path, restrooms, shelter) – December 2022
Wrapping up just as the weather turned, construction was finished on the Community Playfields shelter and restroom structure – all that remains is the site restoration, and the amenity is expected to open for use in April 2023. Community Playfields was the first site of the Village Stormwater Project which began in Fall 2020, and we are so happy with the improvements to this neighborhood park.

CRC HVAC replacement – August-December, 2022
Several HVAC units were replaced on the Community Recreation Center rooftop towards the end of 2022. A crane was brought onsite for each round of work in August, October and December. We appreciate your patience while building and parking lot access were adjusted on these work days!

Winter Holiday Season – December 2022
It was a bustling holiday season and we had so much fun! Thanks to everyone who joined us for a season full of holiday cheer – from gingerbread house decoration, letters to the North Pole and breakfast with jolly old St. Nick, to the Holiday Exhibition and Nutcracker Production! We’re looking forward to an excellent 2023 and spending the rest of Winter with you.