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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.
ROAD REPAIRS BEGINNING AFTER LABOR DAY - EXPECT DELAYS!
Construction on the Main Road going through the Campground and the Main Road going to the Main Boat Launch and Boat Rental/Bait Shop will start sometime after Labor Day and take approximately 2 weeks to complete, weather permitting. Please be patient as you can expect delays during this time. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Now Accepting Applications For The Firearm Antlerless Deer Hunt
The McLean County Department of Parks & Recreation is, once again, offering the SHOTGUN Antlerless Deer Hunt at COMLARA Park for 2022. The Park's season is broken down into the first two Shotgun Season offered by the IDNR. If chosen, you will get one day to hunt and to try to harvest an antlerless deer. Please specify first or second season and what day you prefer to hunt. Any other date you can try to "roll-in" as a stand-by hunter. This Year's Dates are:
Season 1: November 18 - 20
Season 2: December 1 - 4
If you are successfully drawn you will receive a letter in the mail and there will be a orientation meetings every morning in the Park Maintenance Building that you will be required to attend. Drawing is usually conducted the first week of September. A Non-Refundable Application Fee of $5.00 must accompany the application. The last day to apply is August 31, 2022. If there are any questions, please feel free to call the park at (309) 434-6770.
You can register at the Park Visitor Center or on-line at
https://parksandrec.mcleancountyil.gov/eventdetail.aspx?EID=79
CLOSED - F.R. Glasener Beach CLOSED Until Further Notice!
Due to HIGH LEVELS of Bacteria present at Glasener Beach, this facility is closed until further notice. We will keep you updated as we get our water samples back from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Thank you.
F.R. GLASENER BEACH
RULES FOR A FUN & SAFE SWIM
SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK! NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY!PERSONS UNDER AGE 16, MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULTALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PROHIBITEDNO RUNNINGNO PETS ALLOWEDROUGH PLAY NOT ALLOWEDFOOD/BEVERAGES/COOLERS PROHIBITED ON SAND & SUBJECT TO INSPECTIONGLASS PROHIBITED IN ALL AREASSMOKING IN EAST CONCESSION AREA ONLYNO PLAYING ON HANDICAP RAILING/RAMPCHILDREN WITH FLOTATION DEVICES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT AT ALL TIMESAPPROPRIATE SWIM ATTIRE REQUIREDATTENDANT HAS EMERGENCY PHONESWIMMING INSIDE BUOYED AREA ONLY!
Now Accepting Camping Reservations!!
On-Line: Anytime CampLife.com
In-Person: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Park Visitor Center
Phone-In & Mail-In: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Park Visitor Center
For more information or questions, please call the Park Visitor Center at (309) 434-6770.
Extended Bait Shop/Boat Rental Hours Starting May 28, 2022!
The Evergreen Lake Bait Shop & Boat Rental will extend their hours beginning Saturday, May 28, 2022! The Operating Hours are as follows:
Bait Shop - Open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Daily
Boat Rental - Open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Daily
The pontoons can be rented every day! We now have two of them!
2022 Evergreen Lake Boat Stickers Are Here!
ALL watercraft, including all boats, canoes, pontoons, kayaks, paddleboards, etc. must be registered with the McLean County Dept. of Parks & Rec. Annual decal fees are $48.00 (McLean County Residents receive a $10.00 discount). You can register in-person at the COMLARA Park Visitor Center (Office) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday OR On-line at https://parksandrec.mcleancountyil.gov/eventdetail.aspx?EID=77
We Now Have Two Pontoons for Rental!
The Evergreen Lake Boat Rental now has two Pontoons to rent! Prices remain the same! $100 for 2 hours, $175 for four hours, and $325 for eight hours! Call Now to reserve yours for that special occasion at (309) 434-6770. Reservations can be made for dates April 2 through October 9, 2022
2022 Calendar of Events
| DATE | EVENT | INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|
| Dec - Feb | Cross Country Ski Trails Open | Available when conditions permit |
| April 2 | Camping Reservations Accepted | In Person & Online Reservations April 2 (Phone-in & Mail accepted Monday, April 4) |
| April 2 | Boat Rental/Bait Shop Opens | Weekends Only |
| May 28 | Swimming Beach Opens | 7 Days/Week |
| May 28 | Boat Rental Opens | 7 Days/Week |
| June & July | Archery Deer Hunt Applications | Available |
| June 4 | Tri Shark Triathlon | Swim, Bike & Run (www.tri-shark.org) |
| June 25 | Central Illinois Open Water Swim (CIOWS) | |
| July & August | Firearm Deer Hunt Applications | Available |
| July 9 | COMLARA Park Ice Cream Social | Ice Cream, Soft Drinks, Children's Games & More |
| July 13 - 17 | Evergreen Lake Knap-In | Arrowhead and Spear Point Crafting Demonstration + Additional Vendors |
| July 16 | Take A Kid Fishing Tourney | Evergreen Lake - Registration Day Of |
| July 31 | Archery Deer Hunt Application Deadline | |
| August 8 | Swimming Beach Closed | Weekdays Only |
| August 31 | Firearm Deer Hunt Application Deadline | |
| September 5 | Last Day Swimming Beach Open | |
| September 6 | Boat Rental Closed | Weekdays Only |
| Oct 1 - Nov 11 | Deer Management Program - Archery | COMLARA Park - Designated Areas Closed |
| October 9 | Boat Rental Closed for Season | |
| October 15 | Last Day Bait Shop Open | |
| October 15 | Fall Colors Family | Marshmallow & Weiner Roast, Hayrack Rides, Music, Children's Games, Haunted Hayrack Rides, Children's Candy Hunt & More |
| October 16 | Last Day - Camping Reservations | |
| November 18 - 20 | Deer Management Program - Shotgun | COMLARA Park - Closed to General Use |
| December 1 - 4 | Deer Management Program - Shotgun | COMLARA Park - Closed to General Use |
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
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.
For more information contact Mike at (309) 242-5806 or talk to a staff member at the visitor center. Thank you!