The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and it looks like a good day for a stroll in the … wait. Does DeKalb have a park?

Yes, and not just one, there are more than 40 parks in the DeKalb Park District.

“Not only do we have a passive park area where people can walk, there are also areas for kids to play,” said Lisa Small, financial administrator for the DeKalb Park District.

The 40 parks located throughout DeKalb are not all the same, and each has unique characteristics.

For example, some parks have playgrounds, while others hold baseball and soccer fields, and some are merely parks to stroll in.

The parks offer a variety of activities and programs for residents and non-residents of DeKalb.

Two free activities the district offers include the walking program and the Fitness Center, program director Colleen Belmont said.

The walking program allows residents to walk or stroll on an indoor soccer field between 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 5 and 6 p.m. during the school year at the Sport Recreation Center located at 1764 S. Fourth St.

The Fitness Center, which is also free for DeKalb residents, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The center is located at Haish Gym at the corner of Prospect Road and S. Ninth St.

There is also an outdoor swimming pool, which is open in the summer, at Hopkins Park, 1403 Sycamore Rd.

Hopkins Park is the district’s main park, because it holds most of its facilities and administrative offices, Belmont said. That park also holds a community center along with two playgrounds, one of which is accessible for people with disabilities. There is also a band shelter, indoor banquet and an outside gazebo, which can be used for weddings.

The park district also owns two golf courses. One is River Heights, which is located at 1100 S. Annie Glidden Road, and the other is Buena Vista, located at 131 Buena Vista Drive

Buena Vista has a new golfing option called pitch and put.

“It’s like a mini-golf course,” Belmont said. “There is also a driving range.”

The park district holds events throughout the year, like the 4th of July fireworks and music concerts.

“They play every Tuesday at Hopkins [in the summer],” Belmont said.

There also is an Easter Egg hunt sponsored by the park district, which will be held at 10 a.m. March 30 at Hopkins Park. It’s open to children in 3rd grade and under.

“They search for eggs and then turn it in for a treat,” Small said. “Everyone goes home with a treat.”

The park district also sponsors events at Corn Fest and the art fest.

The park district offers a variety of classes, from arts and crafts to athletics. All activities are offered to non-residents also, but will cost a little more.

Residents also are able to make their own league teams in sports like indoor softball, soccer and basketball.

“We have a really neat new turf system, similar to the new [NIU] football field,” Small said.

The park district also is planning for new facilities. One possibility is a dog park, which they still are studying.

Along with NIU and the city, the park district might also open a skating park. Small said if the decision to build the park is positive, it will open at Welsh Park near the end of summer.

The park district also runs popular summer camps, Small said. The camps have a variety of activities, like swimming, crafts and sports.

“They fill up pretty quickly so parents should start thinking about it now,” Small said.

If residents would like more information about the DeKalb Park District, they should visit www.dekalbparkdistrict.com.