Community Corner
Three Oaks Launches First Full Season
The Crystal Lake park opened for its first summer season April 9.
Three Oaks Recreation Area opened for the season April 9 to an enthusiastic response according to Deputy City Manager Eric Helm.
“People were renting boats and using the walking trails and the playground area,” he said.
In fact, all 28 row boats had been rented out during that first morning, leaving latecomers to wait.
Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Those who rented boats used them for fishing in the 280-acre lake, Helm said. Fishing in the lake is catch-and-release. Five types of bass, channel catfish, northern pike, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch are found in the lake and fishing enthusiasts weren’t disappointed opening day. Fishing licenses may be purchased at the marina.
The marina and trails are open from the second weekend in April through the end of October from 6:30 a.m. through sunset. The beach will open around Memorial Day from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. through Labor Day.
Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Facility hours, such as the Pavilion, are from 6:30 a.m. through sunset except by special permit approved by the city.
Helm said the Pavilion is already booked for every weekend from May through August for family events and picnics.
Helm wasn’t surprised that the Pavilion was so quickly rented out.
“It’s a multipurpose facility with many interests. Swimming, hiking–there’s something for everybody,” he said.
Crystal Lake residents have free parking and free access to the recreation area and the beach. Non-residents pay $5 per vehicle to park.
Culver’s will be open daily from May 1 through October, Helm said.
Helm said a sledding hill will be open this winter, extending some of the park’s facilities past October. There is a possibility ice skating will also be featured on the lake, but that has not been decided as of yet.
Camping is allowed by special event permit. The League of Illinois Bicyclists is the first to take advantage of the permit June 16 as part of its 9th annual Grand Illinois Trail and Parks Tour. It will be the last night of the five-day event which begins in Sycamore and travels 300 miles through Northwest Illinois, ending in Crystal Lake.
“We have the green light and we’re moving ahead with it; we’re looking forward to Crystal Lake,” said LIB Executive Director Ed Barsotti.
While some participants will be staying in area hotels, Barsotti expects up to 120 campers at Three Oaks.
