The Peoria Park District

What The Peoria Park District does

The Peoria Park District is a special-purpose unit of local government organized under Illinois state law, operating as the oldest and largest park district in Illinois since its founding in 1894. The district covers nearly 60 square miles within Peoria County and serves community residents through 29 parks, over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails, and 20+ facilities including the Peoria Zoo, Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum, Luthy Botanical Garden, the RiverPlex Recreation & Wellness Center, the Gwynn Family Aquatic Center, three golf courses, the Owens Ice Center, multiple recreation centers, nature centers, and event venues such as the Peoria RiverFront. It maintains a workforce of 144 full-time staff (administrators, recreation programmers, police, and maintenance personnel) supplemented by more than 1,400 seasonal employees during peak activity periods.

The district delivers a comprehensive recreation programming portfolio organized into youth and adult sports, fitness, swimming, dance, golf, hockey and skating, lifeguard training, camps, workforce development, scout programs, and field trips, alongside a signature event series (Parks on Tap, Yoga in the Park, Rec 'n Roll, cultural festivals such as Fiesta en el Rio, Soul Fest, India Fest, Irish Fest, Oktoberfest, and the Fine Art Fair). It also operates a museum, zoo, botanical garden, and aquatic and ice facilities, functioning as a diversified municipal recreation platform. The underlying technology stack is non-existent as a productized platform; digital touchpoints consist of a content website, email newsletter, social media accounts, and an interactive park maps tool.

The district is funded primarily through property tax levy within its jurisdictional boundaries, supplemented by recreation program and membership fees, facility rentals, private event bookings, and corporate sponsorships (e.g., the CEFCU Summer Concert Series, Parks on Tap sponsors CVC, WWCT, and Peoria RiverFront Partnership). It also receives grant funding from partners such as Illinois American Water for environmental initiatives. Proceeds from select programs flow into the Peoria Park District Legacy Fund for long-term capital preservation. The district is governed by an elected Board of Trustees and operates as a non-profit public entity with no parent company, subsidiaries, or private ownership.

Name

The Peoria Park District

Legal name

Peoria Park District

Website

https://peoriaparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Peoria Park District is Illinois' oldest and largest municipal park district, founded in 1894, serving Peoria community residents across nearly 60 square miles with 29 parks, 50+ miles of trails, and 20+ facilities including recreation centers, a zoo, botanical garden, golf courses, and event venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Public parks recreation
• Community recreation programs
• Municipal park services
• Recreation facilities management
• Youth adult sports programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Peoria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: As a Illinois park district, the primary revenue source is property taxes from residents within the district boundaries, which fund parks, facilities, and recreation programming.
2. Program and Membership Fees: Revenue from recreation programs, sports leagues, memberships to recreation centers, and summer camps. Free community programs like Yoga in the Park and Parks on Tap are provided to build community engagement.
3. Facility Rentals and Event Revenue: Revenue from renting park shelters, facilities for weddings and private events, and hosting signature events and concerts at venues like the Peoria RiverFront.
4. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships for events like Parks on Tap (CVC, WWCT sponsors) and concert series (CEFCU Summer Concert Series). Proceeds also support the Peoria Park District Legacy Fund for long-term preservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Peoria Park District operates Illinois' largest and oldest park district, managing nearly 60 square miles of parks, 50+ miles of trails, and a diversified portfolio of recreation facilities. It delivers community recreation programming — including youth and adult sports, fitness, aquatic activities, festivals, and signature events — supported by 144 full-time and more than 1,400 part-time/seasonal staff. Core assets include recreation centers, golf courses, the Peoria Zoo, the Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum, Luthy Botanical Garden, the Gwynn Family Aquatic Center, and the Owens Ice Center.

Product overview

The Peoria Park District is Illinois' largest and oldest park district, operating as a comprehensive parks and recreation system covering nearly 60 square miles. The district manages 29 parks, over 50 miles of trails, and operates a diverse portfolio of facilities including recreation centers (Lakeview, Logan, Proctor, RiverPlex), aquatic centers (Gwynn Family Aquatic Center), golf courses (Kellogg, Madison, Newman), ice rinks (Owens Center), specialty venues (Peoria Zoo, Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum, Luthy Botanical Garden, Forest Park Nature Center), camp grounds, and event spaces. The district delivers programs through core service lines (youth/adult sports, fitness, dance, swimming, camps, workforce development, scout programs) and signature event series (Parks on Tap, Yoga in the Park, cultural festivals, signature community celebrations). Membership programs provide access to facilities while rental services support private events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recreation and Wellness Centers
• Golf Courses
• Peoria Zoo
• Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum
• Luthy Botanical Garden
• Gwynn Family Aquatic Center
• Owens Ice Center
• Youth and Adult Sports Programs
• Community Festivals and Signature Events
• Traveling Recreation Programs
• Facility Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• 66 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chillicothe Parks DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2026Collaborative partnership on the Parks on Tap event at Stone Water Park, bringing together both park districts for a special collaborative event featuring expanded activities, live entertainment, and the Traveling Taphouse for a fun-filled afternoon for all ages.
• CVCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Parks on Tap 2026 season, supporting community events and recreation programming.
• WWCTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Parks on Tap 2026 season, supporting community events and recreation programming.
• Peoria RiverFront PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Parks on Tap 2026 season, supporting the mobile recreation program.
• CEFCUcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the CEFCU Summer Concert Series at the Peoria RiverFront, presenting major concerts and entertainment events.
• Grandstand ConcertscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of major concert events at the Peoria RiverFront, partnering with the Peoria Park District for event production and management.
• Edwards MarketingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of major concert events at the Peoria RiverFront, partnering with the Peoria Park District for event production.
• USA Concerts & EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of major concert events at the Peoria RiverFront, bringing professional event production expertise.
• Illinois American WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded environmental grants to fund local watershed projects including habitat restoration, water conservation, pollution prevention, and community engagement efforts. The Peoria Park District is a recipient of these environmental grants.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Park District: The largest municipal park district in Illinois and the U.S., operating 600+ parks and a similarly diverse portfolio of recreation centers, museums, and cultural facilities. It is the most direct structural and operational peer to Peoria Park District in Illinois.
• Naperville Park District: Suburban Illinois park district operating parks, recreation centers, golf courses (including a nationally-ranked course), and the Naper Settlement. Comparable in operating model — property tax funded, multi-facility recreation portfolio, diverse programming.
• Forest Preserves of Cook County: Illinois governmental entity managing 70,000+ acres of forest preserves, trails, and nature centers across Cook County. Comparable as a public-sector land and nature-based recreation operator with similar property tax funding and conservation mandate.
• DuPage County Forest Preserve District: Forest preserve district in DuPage County, IL operating parks, trails, and nature education facilities. Comparable governance structure (elected board, property tax funded) and similar focus on outdoor recreation, trails, and nature programming.
• Arlington Heights Park District: Suburban Chicago-area park district operating parks, recreation centers, pools, and athletic facilities. Comparable operating model — property tax funded, multi-facility recreation portfolio serving a defined municipal boundary.
• Schaumburg Park District: Illinois park district operating the Prairie Center for the Arts, recreation facilities, sports complexes, and community programming. Comparable structure (property tax funded, elected board) and similarly diverse programming including cultural venues.

Broad incumbents

• Morton Arboretum: Major botanical garden and outdoor museum in suburban Chicago with comparable plant collections and nature education programming to Luthy Botanical Garden and the Forest Park Nature Center. Operates at a larger scale with a similar educational/mission-driven focus.
• Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society): Major accredited zoo in the Chicago region operated by a nonprofit/zoological society. Comparable to the Peoria Zoo in core function (live animal exhibits, education) but operates at substantially larger scale with different funding model (admissions-heavy vs. property tax).
• Lincoln Park Zoo: Free-admission urban zoo in Chicago with strong education and conservation programming. Direct functional peer to the Peoria Zoo in animal exhibits, family programming, and educational mission, though larger and adjacent to a major park district.

Emerging players

• Children's Discovery Museum (normal, IL): Children's museum in central Illinois with a similar educational mission to the Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum. Regionally proximate and serves overlapping family audiences, though smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PeoriaParkDist
• Facebookfacebook.com/PeoriaParkDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peoria-park-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 The Peoria Park District