Parks & Recreation

When you need a place to get away from it all, beautiful parks and tucked-away treasures await your recreational pursuits. Biking, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and disc golf are just a few of the activities available just outside your door.

If your idea of recharging includes sweat on your brow, fresh air in your lungs and sunshine on your face, Stephenson County has a great selection of outdoor activities to offer the serenity you crave.

With over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails across the county, pick your path and enjoy the views! The Jane Addams Trail, Lake Le0Aqua-Na State Park, Oakdale Nature Preserve, Krape Park, Hideaway Park, Taylor Park, Evangeline Forest Walk and Tutty’s Crossing are remarkable space to walk, bike and unwind.

Bring your kayak or canoe and put in for a day of beautiful paddling. Pick the shaded scenery of Yellow Creek from Krape Park or the long, winding waters of “Illinois’ Friendliest Paddle” on the Pecatonica River from Winslow to Tutty’s Crossing for up to 30 miles of water trail.

OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS

Jane Addams Trail

17-mile recreational trail with beautiful scenery passing through prairie, wetlands and geologic formations. Bike all the way to Wisconsin!

Oakdale Nature Preserve

133 acres of forests, restored prairies and more than four miles of trails.

Little Cubs Field

A miniature replica of Wrigley Field for baseball fans of all ages.

Championship Golf

Five 18-hole golf courses featuring challenging terrain and remarkable features.

Krape Park

Located on the west edge of Freeport, Krape Park includes a wonderfully restored antique carousel, 18-hole mini golf course, paddle boat rental as well as miles of hiking trails.

Read Park

A quad-plex baseball complex is the center of Read Park along with a skate park, swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts.

Key Industries

Healthcare

Construction, Plumbing, Heating, & Service

Private Label Food Manufacturing

Stephenson County Major Employers

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MVP: Membership Value Proposition April 23, 2024 Freeport, greater freeport partnership, olivo taco, Stephenson County When you decide to become a member or investor of the Greater Freeport Partnership, we understand that a value calculation is made. Is the cost of membership equal to or less than the value you get from being a member and supporting the work that we do at the Partnership? Because we understand that, we work hard to provide value […]

A Leadership Lesson from an Eclipse April 22, 2024 Yesterday at 3:26 pm, my city experienced a 97% solar eclipse. In other words, we were just off-center from the path of totality. I ventured outside at 3:15 p.m. with my eclipse viewer. My dog ran around the backyard. Across the street, a neighbor had 20 people at their house for a joint birthday and eclipse party. And I noticed […]

Exposure to Manufacturing April 18, 2024 Freeport, greater freeport partnership, Manufacturing, Stephenson County It is human nature to gravitate towards the familiar. That holds true for high school students. They will frequently choose careers or educational pathways aligned to future careers based on their exposure to that career. So how do we expose more students to the varied manufacturing careers available locally? That was the most prominent conversation thread at our recent Manufacturing […]

Stephenson County Home Show – April 20 April 18, 2024 Participating Vendors include: Acri Company PO. Box 737 Milan, IL 61264 (309) 787-3580 cfilali@acricompany.com Affordable Water 214 W. Menomonie St. Belvidere, IL 61008 (815) 544-1021 affordablewater.durham@gmail.com Bader Construction 1506 S. Oak Ave. Freeport, IL 61032 (815) 821-5733 Bath Planet 7111 N. Alpine Rd. Loves Park, IL 61111 (815) 205-0049 aileen@bathplanetlocal.com Bowen’s Carpet Dry 108 2nd Ave. […]