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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.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER HELP FOR THE
FALL COLORS HAUNTED TRAIL!
THE McLEAN COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT WITH THE HAUNTED TRAIL! THE TRAIL WILL RUN FROM 7-9 P.M. ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14TH. THERE WILL BE A MANDATORY ORIENTATION MEETING AT 5:30 P.M. SHARP. VOLUNTEERS WILL BE GIVEN SUB SANDWICHES, CHIPS, SOFT DRINKS, & DESSERT BEFORE THE TRAIL OPENS. WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF COSTUMES, BUT YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO BRING YOUR OWN.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE COME TO THE COMLARA PARK VISITOR CENTER AND FILL OUT A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION OR CALL US AT (309) 434-6770 AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND AN E-MAIL AND WE CAN SEND YOU ONE. YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 13 YEARS OF AGE TO PARTICIPATE. KIDS 13-17 YEARS OF AGE MUST HAVE A PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGN THE VOLUNTEER FORM.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL US AT (309) 434-6770.
THANK YOU!
FALL COLORS FAMILY DAY
AT COMLARA PARK
SATURDAY OCTOBER 14, 2023
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
1:00 - 4:00 CHILDREN'S GAMES & ACTIVITIES: PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST (12 yrs & Under/Judging @4:00 p.m.), BAG DECORATING CONTEST (12 yrs. & Under/Judging @ 4:00 p.m.) HALLOWEEN TIC-TAC-TOE, BEAN BAG TOSS GAMES, COOKIE DECORATING, FIRETRUCKS & MORE
1:00 – 5:30pm HAYRACK RIDES; MARSHMALLOW/WIENER ROAST
1:30 pm MARSHMALLOW TOSS
2:30pm BEAN BAGS TOSS GAME TOURNEY (16 YRS. & UNDER)
3:30pm RELAYS
4:30pm LITTLE GOBLINS CANDY HUNT (AGES 12 & UNDER)
5:00pm MARSHMALLOW EATING CONTEST
5:30 - 7:00pm TRICK OR TREATING IN THE CAMPGROUND
7:00 - 9:00pm HAUNTED TRAIL HAYRACK RIDES: $1/PERSON
A BIG THANK YOU TO THE McLEAN COUNTY SPORTSMEN'S ASSOCIATION!
Thank you to the McLean County Sportsmen's Association for, not only providing the Archery Targets at the Archery Range at COMLARA Park, but for maintaining them, as well!
The COMLARA Park Archery Range is located at the t-intersection of 2300 North and 1300 East Roads, Hudson, IL.
SECOND PHASE OF ROAD RESURFACING PROJECT TO BEGIN THE END OF SEPTEMBER/FIRST OF OCTOBER IN CAMPGROUND AND MAIN RECREATION AREA
Phase II of the Road Resurfacing Project at COMLARA Park will begin the end of September/first of October. Certain areas of the COMLARA Park Campground and Main Recreation Area (MRA) may be closed for short periods of time to allow for the project to be completed. Thank you for your patience during this time to allow for the completion of this project.
ARCHERY DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM STARTING MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2023 - CERTAIN AREAS CLOSED TO GENERAL USE!
Starting Monday, October 2, 2023 certain areas of COMLARA Park will be closed to general use to allow for the Archery portion of the Deer Management Program. Only permitted hunters will be allowed in these areas. Areas closed to general use will have Flourescent Orange signs with marking tape detailing that an area is closed.
BAIT SHOP/BOAT RENTAL - NOW ON OUR LATE SUMMER/FALL HOURS!
Bait Shop Hours - 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Daily
Boat Rental Hours - 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays only
Boat Rental Closes For The Season - October 8, 2023
Bait Shop Closes For The Season - October 14, 2023
EVERGREEN LAKE REMAINS A 10HP OR LESS LAKE!
The horsepower limit on Evergreen Lake remains 10hp or less. You can use a larger motor to load and unload from your trailer. Motors greater than 10hp MUST be propped out of the water once you are away from the launch docks. YOU CANNOT IDLE A LARGER MOTOR AT NO-WAKE SPEED ON EVERGREEN LAKE. Thank you.
NOW ACCEPTING CAMPING RESERVATIONS!
On-Line reservations at www.camplife.com/COMLARA
Walk-In reservations from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the COMLARA Park Visitor Center.
Phone-In reservations at (309) 434-6770.
Order Your 2023 Evergreen Lake Watercraft Decal On-line Here!
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 through October 8, 2023
2023 Calendar of Events
DATE | EVENT | INFORMATION |
---|---|---|
Dec - Feb | Cross Country Ski Trails Open | Available when conditions permit |
April 1 | Camping Reservations Accepted | In Person & Online Reservations April 1 (Phone-in & Mail accepted Monday, April 3) |
April 1 | Boat Rental/Bait Shop Opens | Weekends Only |
May 27 | Swimming Beach Opens | 7 Days/Week |
May 27 | Boat Rental Opens | 7 Days/Week |
June & July | Archery Deer Hunt Applications | Available |
June 3 | Tri Shark Triathlon | Swim, Bike & Run (www.tri-shark.org) |
June 24 | Central Illinois Open Water Swim (CIOWS) | |
July & August | Firearm Deer Hunt Applications | Available |
July 8 | COMLARA Park Ice Cream Social | Ice Cream, Soft Drinks, Children's Games & More |
July 15 | Take A Kid Fishing Tourney | Evergreen Lake. Registration Day of Event |
July 20-23 | Evergreen Lake Knap-In | Arrowhead and Spear Point Crafting Demonstration + Additional Vendors |
July 31 | Archery Deer Hunt Application Deadline | |
August 7 | Swimming Beach Closed | Weekdays Only |
August 19 | Painful Elimination Run | |
August 31 | Firearm Deer Hunt Application Deadline | |
September 4 | Last Day Swimming Beach Open | |
September 5 | Boat Rental Closed | Weekdays Only |
Oct 2 - Nov 12 | Deer Management Program - Archery | COMLARA Park - Designated Areas Closed |
October 8 | Boat Rental Closed for Season | |
October 14 | Last Day Bait Shop Open | |
October 14 | Fall Colors Family Day | Marshmallow & Weiner Roast, Hayrack Rides, Music, Children's Games, Haunted Hayrack Rides, Children's Candy Hunt & More |
October 15 | Last Day - Camping Reservations | |
November 17 - 19 | Deer Management Program - Shotgun | COMLARA Park - Closed to General Use |
November 30 - December 3 | 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
CONTACT INFO
Parks & Recreation
Physical Address
13001 Recreation Area Dr.
Hudson, IL 61748
Phone: (309) 434-6770
SUMMER VISITOR CENTER HOURS 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
7 Days/Week
Park Staff
Mike Steffa - Park Director
Brad Wood - Operations Supervisor
Brett Murphy - Maintenance Supervisor
Dave Grizzle - Maintenance Mechanic