Boone County Celebrates its Parks and Recreation!

Now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy all that Boone County has to offer! The excellent collection of man-made amenities like sports parks, recreation centers and pools complement the natural conservation areas for hiking, fishing, biking and more. Taken together, Boone County is an incredible place for families and outdoor adventurers to Live, Work and Play! 

Top 5 Outdoor Recreation Spots in Boone County

There are so many fun things to do in Boone County that it’s difficult to narrow it down to a short list. Still, here are our top five sites for recreation!

#1 Belvidere Park

Belvidere Park is 105 acres of natural beauty with a wide range of amenities that promotes an active and healthy lifestyle for persons of all ages. As part of the Belvidere Park District, it includes four shelters, public restrooms, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, a ball diamond, playground areas, accessible fishing pier and a historical swinging bridge. The Kishwaukee River and the Mill Race separate the park into three areas – north, center and south. One of the newer additions is a nine-hole disc golf course that runs through the park.

#2 William Grady Pool

Another inclusion of the Belvidere Park District is the William Grady Pool. The outdoor 25-meter pool with several lap lanes ranges in depth from 3.5 feet to 5 feet, with water heated to 82°F. It also has a diving well that goes to 13.5 feet that people can enjoy through two one-meter and one three-meter diving boards. The wading pool offers young children the ability to enjoy the pool as well. Other amenities include a spacious deck with shade structures, Fun ‘n Sun Area, a basketball court and children’s playground.

#3 Rivers Edge Recreation Center

A third wonderful amenity within the Belvidere Park District is the Rivers Edge Recreation Center. It includes a full-size gymnasium with synthetic flooring, bleachers and the ability to subdivide; an indoor batting and golf cage; and a 35-foot climbing wall with routes for all levels of climbers. Meetings and other gatherings are served best with two program rooms and two multi-purpose rooms that range from 900 to 1,800 square feet with a kitchen connected to the multi-purpose rooms. 

#4 Prairie Fields Sports Park

Prairie Fields Sports Park is a sports facility located on 90 acres of land south of the Boone County Fairgrounds. It includes several fields available for rent, such as three full soccer fields, one U11 soccer field, one tackle football field for youth, one baseball and one softball field. In addition, there are two practice soccer fields open to the public. Fields are available for use April 1st through the end of October.

#5 Boone County Conservation District

The Boone County Conservation District manages nearly 30 parks, conservation areas, trails and wetlands covering over 3,000 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands for natural recreation. Recreational features include 3 ½ miles of hiking trails, a 3 ½ mile horse trail, two picnic shelters. Much of the area represents how northern Boone County looked prior to settlement with its Oak/Hickory woodlands and savannas with grasslands scattered between. The spring-fed Kinnikinnick Creek winds through limestone bluffs with a large variety of native flora and fish. 

One gem within the District is the 14.2 mile asphalt Long Prairie Trail bisecting Northern Boone County, along the Kenosha Division Line railroad bed. The trail passes through woodlands, cultivated fields, native prairie and the towns of Capron, Poplar Grove and Caledonia. 

Get Outside and Bring a Friend

We encourage you to get outside, explore, do something new and bring a friend along. Boone County has a lot to offer and our parks and rec department does an excellent job at providing opportunities for community members to enjoy themselves. Still, not everyone takes advantage of these opportunities. Share this article and tell a friend about all of the great things there are to do in our community.