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Parks & Recreation
Our Mission
It is the mission of the McLean County Department of Parks and Recreation to ensure adequate provision for high-quality regional parks and related outdoor recreational activities for all citizens of McLean County in the most cost-efficient manner.
Sewage Treatment Plant Project
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PARK MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR!
The McLean County-Parks Department is now accepting applications for the Maintenance Supervisor position! For more information and to apply for this position please go to: https://il-mcleancounty.civicplushrms.com/careers/Jobs.aspx
Thank you!
CAMPING RESERVATIONS - NOW BEING ACCEPTED!
The COMLARA Camping Season is fast approaching! The Parks Department will begin accepting Camping Reservations starting Saturday, April 3, 2021. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY!
On-Line Reservations start at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2021. If you don't already have an account set up, please go to www.camplife.com/COMLARA
In-Person Reservations start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at the COMLARA Park Visitor Center.
Phone-In & Mail-In start at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2021
Reservation Deposits require the first night's camping fee, PLUS the Reservation Fee PER SITE! For Deposit Schedule please see the Camping Section under Outdoor Recreation at the icons to the left.
Reservations can be made for dates April 4, 2021 through October 17, 2021.
HAPPY CAMPING!
2021 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
McLEAN COUNTY PARKS
DEC-FEB CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS OPEN
AVAILABLE WHEN CONDITIONS PERMIT
APRIL…….…3 CAMPING RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED
IN PERSON & ONLINE RESV APRIL 3 (PHONE-IN & MAIL-IN ACCEPTED MONDAY
APRIL 5)
APRIL…….…3 BOAT RENTAL/BAIT SHOP OPENS
WEEKEND ONLY
MAY……….29 SWIMMING BEACH OPENS – 7 DAYS/WEEK
BOAT RENTAL OPENS – 7 DAYS/WEEK
JUNE ……....5 TRI SHARK TRIATHLON
SWIM, BIKE, & RUN (www.tri-shark.org)
JUNE & JULY ARCHERY DEER HUNT APPS-AVAILABLE
JUNE…….. 12 BEACH BLOWOUT/WACKY WATER OLYMPICS
JULY & AUG. FIREARM DEER HUNT APPS- AVAILABLE
JULY……..…10 COMLARA PARK ICE CREAM SOCIAL
ICE CREAM, SOFT DRINKS, CHILDREN’S GAMES & MORE
JULY…..14-18 EVERGREEN LAKE KNAP-IN
ARROWHEAD AND SPEAR POINT CRAFTING DEMONSTRATION + ADDITIONAL VENDORS
JULY……....17 TAKE A KID FISHING TOURNEY
EVERGREEN LAKE PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, IN-PERSON, ON-LINE, MAIL
JULY…….…31 ARCHERY DEER HUNT APP. DEADLINE
AUGUST……7 SWIMMING BEACH CLOSED WEEKDAYS
AUGUST….31 FIREARM DEER HUNT APP. DEADLINE
SEPT……….6 LAST DAY SWIMMING BEACH OPEN
SEPT…….…6 BOAT RENTAL CLOSED WEEKDAYS
OCT. 1–NOV.11 DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
ARCHERY COMLARA PARK – DESIGNATED AREAS CLOSED
OCT……....10 BOAT RENTAL CLOSED FOR SEASON
OCT……....10 LAST DAY BAIT SHOP OPEN
OCT……....16 FALL COLORS FAMILY
MARSHMALLOW & WIENER ROAST, HAYRACK RIDES, MUSIC,
CHILDREN’S GAMES, HAUNTED HAYRACK RIDES, CHILDREN’S
CANDY HUNT, & MORE
OCT……....18 LAST DAY – CAMPING RESERVATIONS
NOV. 19 – 21 & DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM-SHOTGUN
DEC 1-5 COMLARA PARK – CLOSED TO GENERAL USE
Boat Rental & Bait Shop - NOW OPEN!
The Evergreen Lake Boat Rental & Bait Shop will start it's Spring/Early Summer Hours beginning Saturday, April 3, 2021. The hours will be as follows:
Boat Rental - Open Saturdays, & Sundays from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Boat Rental will be closed Monday through Friday.
NOTE - THE PONTOON WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE TO RESERVE/RENT 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. EVERY DAY.
Bait Shop - Open 7 days per week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Bait Shop offers minnows, night crawlers, red worms, wax worms, leeches, cheese baits, and cut baits. Limited tackle and ice available, too! NOTE - During the weekdays staff is not present, FOR ASSISTANCE CALL THE PARK VISITOR CENTER AT (309) 434-6770. Thank you!
NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS
FOR SUMMER POSITIONS AT COMLARA PARK/EVERGREEN LAKE
The McLean County Parks Department is now taking applications for the summer positions of Park Laborer, Weekend Boat Concession Attendant, and Park Attendant (Rec. Asst.). We are still waiting to see if the State of Illinois is going to lift Covid restrictions so we can open Glasener Beach. If it opens, we will also be taking Beach Lifeguard applications. To apply, please see the link below. THANK YOU!
https://il-mcleancounty.civicplushrms.com/careers/Jobs.aspx
EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2021!
NEW CRAPPIE REGULATION AT EVERGREEN LAKE
Starting April 1, 2021, Evergreen Lake will have a New Crappie Regulation. The New Regulation will state:
CRAPPIE - White, Black, or Hybrid - 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 5 fish greater or equal to 10 inches
2021 Evergreen Lake Watercraft Decals ARE HERE!!!!
The 2021 Evergreen Lake Watercraft Decals are NOW AVAILABLE! If you’d like to get your Boat Permit for Evergreen Lake, you can do it a couple of ways. Register online OR In-person at the Park Visitor Center during operating hours. Operating hours are currently 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Please remember if you put something on Evergreen Lake and it floats, you must have a Lake Registration Decal. This includes all boats, canoes, kayaks, sailboats, sailboards, paddleboards, etc. Fees remain the same for 2021. An Annual Registration for NON-COUNTY Residents is $48.00 and for McLean County Residents it is $38.00. Thank you!
Adopt-A-Tree Program
Would you like to Adopt-A-Tree at COMLARA Park?
In the last couple of years, the park staff has had to cut down several Ash Trees that were destroyed by the Emerald Ash Borer, specifically in the Campground and Main Recreation Area (MRA). For a donation of $100.00, the Park’s Dept. will purchase a 5-6 ft. tree and have a small plaque made with it to say you donated it and/or in memory of someone who was special to you. For a donation of $200, the Park’s Dept. will purchase an 8-12 ft. tree and have a larger, more decorative plaque made with it to say you donated it and/or in memory of someone who was special to you.
FMI CONTACT MIKE AT (309) 242-5806 OR TALK TO A STAFF MEMBER AT THE PARK VISITOR CENTER. THANK YOU!