What Plainfield Park District does

Plainfield Park District is a municipal park district organized under Illinois state law, founded in 1966 and headquartered in Plainfield, Illinois. The district provides recreational services to Plainfield-area residents across more than 100 parks and six major facilities, including the Prairie Activity & Recreation Center (PARC) — a 40,000-square-foot Net-Zero certified facility and the first recreation center in Illinois to achieve NetZero status (2023) — the Ottawa Street Pool outdoor aquatic facility, the 6-acre Normantown Equestrian Center, Streams Recreation Center, Prairie Fit Fitness Center, and the Plainfield Township Community Center.

The district's service portfolio spans youth athletics, swim lessons, dance programs, summer and specialty camps (including S.T.E.A.M.-themed offerings), early childhood education through Great Adventures Preschool and Great Beginnings, fitness classes, adult athletics leagues, active adult (50+) programming, equestrian lessons and boarding, facility rentals, and community special events. Operations are supported by conventional municipal technology: an online WebTrac registration portal, the ePACT platform for electronic emergency and health form collection, Constant Contact for email communications, Statusfy for facility and weather status, and ArcGIS for geographic mapping.

Revenue is generated through a mix of property tax allocations (as a government subdivision with taxing authority), program registration fees structured under a resident/non-resident pricing model with resident priority registration, monthly and annual facility/preschool subscriptions, one-time facility and event rentals, equestrian boarding contracts, corporate sponsorship arrangements, and grants. The district holds CAPRA accreditation, Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency status, and the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, and achieved the GFOA Triple Crown in financial reporting for fiscal year 2024.

Name

Plainfield Park District

Legal name

Plainfield Park District

Website

https://plfdparks.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Plainfield Park District is a 1966-founded Illinois municipal park district providing recreation, aquatics, fitness, dance, preschool, equestrian, and camp programming to Plainfield community residents across 100+ parks and six major facilities, including Illinois's first Net-Zero certified recreation center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD), Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB)

Keywords

• Parks and recreation
• Recreation programs
• Youth athletics leagues
• Equestrian services
• Fitness center memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Plainfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Revenue from recreation programs including athletics, dance, camps, equestrian lessons, swim lessons, fitness classes, and youth enrichment. Pricing structure differentiates between residents and non-residents with residents receiving priority registration.
2. Facility Memberships: Prairie Fit Fitness Center memberships including Silver & Fit and Silver Sneakers programs for active adults, offering fitness center access and personal training services.
3. Equestrian Boarding Services: Full board ($1,031/month), partial board ($706/month), and dry stall board ($353-453/month) services at Normantown Equestrian Center including lessons on boarded horses.
4. Facility Rentals: Revenue from room rentals, birthday parties, shelter rentals, athletic field rentals, and Ottawa Street Pool rentals for private events.
5. Preschool Programs: Great Adventures Preschool and Great Beginnings preschool prep programs with tuition-based pricing ranging from $1,335 to $4,494 annually depending on program and frequency.
6. Advertising and Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship program with various partners including Plainfield Pet Resort, Canlan Sports, UChicago Medicine Advent Health, D'Arcy Buick GMC, and other local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Plainfield Park District is a municipal park district that provides comprehensive recreational services to Plainfield, Illinois residents across multiple facilities and program areas. Core offerings include youth and adult athletics leagues, swim lessons, dance programs, equestrian lessons and boarding, fitness classes, preschool education (Great Adventures and Great Beginnings), summer and specialty camps, youth enrichment (S.T.E.A.M. camps), special events, and facility rentals. Programs are accessed through an online registration portal with resident/non-resident pricing and priority registration for residents.

Product overview

Plainfield Park District offers a comprehensive parks and recreation portfolio across multiple facilities and program areas. The district operates major facilities including Prairie Activity & Recreation Center (PARC) - a Net-Zero certified 40,000 sq ft recreation center, Ottawa Street Pool outdoor aquatic facility, and Normantown Equestrian Center (NTEC) equestrian facility. The recreation programming spans youth and adult athletics, camps (summer day, preschool, athletic, equestrian, dance), dance programs with competitive team options, early childhood education (Great Adventures Preschool and Great Beginnings preschool prep), fitness classes, swim lessons, youth enrichment (S.T.E.A.M. camps), special events, and active adult programs. The district also partners with sports affiliates for baseball/softball, soccer, and football/cheer programs. Registration is managed through an online WebTrac system with the Activity Guide (The Oak Leaf) as the primary program catalog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PARC (Prairie Activity & Recreation Center): A 40,000-square-foot Net-Zero certified recreation facility at Gregory B. Bott Park, the first recreation center in Illinois with Net-Zero certification.
• Ottawa Street Pool (OSP)
• Normantown Equestrian Center (NTEC)
• Prairie Fit Fitness Center
• Streams Recreation Center
• The Oak Leaf

Products and services

• Prairie Activity & Recreation Center (PARC) A 40,000-square-foot Net-Zero certified recreation facility at Gregory B. Bott Park, the first recreation center in Illinois with Passive House Certification (2019) and NetZero status (2023). Features an indoor track, fitness center, open gym, room rentals, and birthday party hosting for district residents and non-residents.
• Ottawa Street Pool 278,000-gallon L-shaped outdoor pool near downtown Plainfield with high and low diving boards, a 3,000-gallon enclosed tot wading pool, picnic area, swim lessons, and private rental bookings for events.
• Normantown Equestrian Center (NTEC) A 6-acre equestrian facility with 48 11x12-foot stalls, a 78x180-foot heated indoor riding arena, a small indoor arena, two outdoor arenas, and five paddocks, offering equestrian lessons, horse boarding, pony rides, and equestrian camps for riders ages 5+.
• Adult Athletics Programs Seasonal adult sports leagues for adults 18+ including Men's 12-inch Softball, Co-Ed Softball, Men's Basketball, Co-Ed Volleyball, and Adult Pickleball, with resident/non-resident team and individual pricing.
• Youth Athletics Programs Indoor and outdoor youth sports instruction and leagues for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels, with offerings varying by season.
• Camps Program Seasonal camp offerings including Summer Day Camp, Preschool Summer Camp, Athletic Summer Camps, Equestrian Summer Camps, and Dance Summer Camps for children and youth.
• Dance Programs Dance instruction at Streams Recreation Center in ballet, pointe, poms, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, plus the FrontLine competitive dance team for IPDDC competitions.
• Great Adventures Preschool Tuition-based preschool classes for children ages 3-5 including Finally 3, 3-Year-Old, 4-Year-Old, and Finally 5 with annual pricing (R $1,335–$3,594 / NR $1,668–$4,494), focused on learning through play for social, intellectual, physical, and emotional growth.
• Great Beginnings (Preschool Prep) School-readiness program for children ages 2-3 with Itty Bitties, Little Explorers, and Big Discoveries classes focused on early development.
• Fitness Classes Group fitness classes held at PARC and Plainfield Township Community Center including Strength & Cardio, 20/20/20, Boxing HIIT, Basic Step, Yoga, Pilates, Cycle Burn, and Water Aerobics for residents and non-residents.
• Swim Lessons Group and private swim instruction at Ottawa Street Pool including Parent-Child, 1-week and 2-week group sessions, and adult/teen lessons, with resident/non-resident pricing per session.
• Youth Enrichment Programs S.T.E.A.M. and enrichment programs for youth including Little Science Explorers Camp, Messy Masterpiece Camp, Summer S.T.E.A.M. Camp, Tiny Tech Adventures, Code the Canvas, Sustainable Futures, Abrakadoodle Art Camp, Kids in the Kitchen, and Star Gazing.
• Special Events Year-round community events including Fishing Derby, Food Truck Festival, Fireworks, Movies in the Park, Cruise Nights, Travel Programs, Holiday Events, and seasonal celebrations.
• Active Adults Programs Recreation programming for adults 50+ including trips, Strong & Sturdy fitness classes, massage services, Bunco parties, game days, and special events, with monthly newsletters and calendars distributed via Constant Contact.
• Sports Affiliates Program Affiliated youth sports programming through partner organizations including Plainfield Athletic Club (baseball/softball), Wheatland Athletic Association, Plainfield Soccer Association, and Plainfield Jr. Cats (football/cheer).
• Prairie Fit Fitness Center Fitness center located within PARC offering memberships, personal training, and Silver & Fit / Silver Sneakers program access for active adults and the broader community.
• Facility Rentals Rentable spaces for private events including room rentals, shelter rentals, athletic field rentals, Ottawa Street Pool rentals, and birthday party venues across district facilities.
• ePACT Emergency and Health Form Automation Secure electronic health and emergency contact information collection system for program participants, replacing paper forms with bank-level security and staff access controls.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northern Will County Special Recreation Association (NWCSRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NWCSRA provides recreational programming and services for individuals with disabilities, extending the district's accessibility mission to serve residents with special needs across the region.
• Plainfield Pet ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing advertising and sponsorship support to the park district through the corporate sponsorship program.
• Canlan SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports facility operator and corporate sponsor supporting park district programs and events.
• UChicago Medicine Advent HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare provider corporate sponsor supporting community health and wellness initiatives through park district sponsorship.
• D'Arcy Buick GMCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal automotive dealer corporate sponsor contributing to park district programs and events.
• TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and ElectricalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHome services company corporate sponsor supporting park district community programs.
• NuMark Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution corporate sponsor supporting local community recreation programs.
• Heartland Bank & TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank corporate sponsor for park district events and programs.
• Saint Joseph Medical CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare provider corporate sponsor supporting community wellness through park district partnerships.
• Plainfield Athletic ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliated baseball/softball organization (recreation and travel) operating under the sports affiliates program, providing organized youth sports leagues.
• Wheatland Athletic AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliated baseball/softball organization providing recreation and travel sports programs.
• Plainfield Soccer AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliated soccer organization providing recreation soccer programs for youth in the community.
• Plainfield Jr. CatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliated football and cheer organization (recreation and travel) serving youth in the community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Joliet Park District: Will County municipal park district with comparable program breadth (athletics, aquatics, special events, senior programming). Useful peer for benchmarking urban-suburban park district economics.
• Bolingbrook Park District: Nearby Will County park district operating The Promenade Bolingbrook and similar recreation centers with aquatics, fitness, and youth programming. Directly comparable suburban Illinois peer.
• Shorewood Park District: Neighboring Will County park district providing similar recreation programs and facilities. Comparable in district profile and program mix for regional benchmarking.
• Lockport Township Park District: Will County township park district offering similar recreation programs and preschool. Closely comparable in scale and governance structure, useful for sub-regional benchmarking.
• New Lenox Community Park District: Adjacent Will County community park district with parallel programming in athletics, fitness, and preschool. Useful for sub-regional market share benchmarking.
• Frankfort Park District: Will County park district operating Founders Community Center and similar facilities with comparable programs (fitness, preschool, athletics, camps).
• Naperville Park District: Largest and most decorated neighboring Illinois park district. Operates similar program lines (aquatics, fitness, preschool, camps) and serves as a top comparable for resident programming scale, accreditation posture, and financial reporting excellence.
• Oswegoland Park District: Adjacent Kendall/Will County park district offering athletics, aquatics, preschool, and fitness. Comparable in district size, program mix, and Illinois municipal governance structure.
• Romeoville Recreation Department: Nearby municipal recreation provider serving Romeoville with comparable programs and facilities. Useful regional peer for participation and pricing comparison.

Broad incumbents

• Forest Preserve District of Will County: Larger county-wide parks and conservation operator in the same geography. Serves overlapping residents with broader outdoor/natural amenities rather than recreation programming, making it a complementary incumbent rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/plainfieldparks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFRTB03kP1CDKBSsUdV96eA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlainfieldParkDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plainfield-park-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/PlainfieldParkDistrict

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plainfield Park District