Bourbonnais Township Park District

What Bourbonnais Township Park District does

Bourbonnais Township Park District (BTPD) is a municipal park district organized under Illinois state law, serving the Bourbonnais Township community in Kankakee County, Illinois. Founded in 1986 and operating from its administrative headquarters at 459 N. Kennedy Drive in Bourbonnais, the district runs six parks and facilities — Perry Farm Park, Willowhaven Park, Diamond Point Park, Turnberry Park, the Recreation Station, the Exploration Station children's discovery center, Perry Farm House, and Willowhaven Center — staffed by 11-50 employees under Executive Director Mike O'Shea and Deputy Director Amanda Langlois. BTPD offers year-round recreational programming across early childhood, youth, teen, adult, and active-senior segments, including youth athletics, summer day camps, adult fitness classes, therapeutic programs, martial arts, and special-interest classes such as horseback riding, baking, and culinary camps.

Revenue is generated through a portfolio of streams: program registration fees, facility and park rentals for private events, Exploration Station admissions ($10 children, $8 adults) and annual memberships, and corporate event sponsorships (e.g., St. Mary's Hospital sponsoring the Scarecrow Festival). The district also receives grant funding from sources including the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (Storybook Forest exhibit) and the Agency of Aging of Northeastern Illinois (Therapeutic Tai Chi). Programs are priced on a unit/pay-as-you-go basis, with some offerings provided free through grant funding. Distribution occurs through direct on-site services, online self-service registration via the third-party WebTrac platform, and in-person registration at three locations across Bourbonnais, Bradley, and Kankakee.

The district's go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on grassroots engagement, local events (Scarecrow Festival, Food Truck Fridays, Summer Concert Series, Turkey Trot, Christmas on the Farm), a website (btpd.org), Constant Contact email newsletter, seasonal brochures, and partnerships with healthcare providers, nonprofits, and sports franchises. Recent strategic activity includes a sensory inclusion certification with KultureCity (2024), the opening of the Storybook Forest exhibit at Exploration Station in 2025 (the largest exhibit update in 30 years), and ongoing board leadership transitions. As a publicly funded entity governed by an elected Board of Commissioners, BTPD operates outside the traditional venture-backed company model and does not have external funding rounds, subsidiaries, or M&A activity.

Name

Bourbonnais Township Park District

Legal name

Bourbonnais Township Park District

Website

https://btpd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bourbonnais Township Park District is a municipal park district serving Bourbonnais Township in Kankakee County, Illinois, operating six parks and facilities and providing year-round recreational programs, youth athletics, summer camps, therapeutic wellness classes, and community events for families, youth, adults, and seniors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Parks and Recreation

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)

Keywords

• Parks and recreation
• Municipal recreation services
• Community parks
• Recreational programs
• Children's discovery center

Headquarters

HQ city

Bourbonnais

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

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Revenue from registration fees for recreational programs including youth athletics, summer camps, adult fitness classes, therapeutic programs, and special interest classes. Fees vary by program type and duration.
2. Facility and Park Rentals: Rental income from facility rentals (Perry Farm House, Recreation Station, Willowhaven Center) and park/shelter rentals for private events.
3. Exploration Station Admissions and Memberships: Admission fees for the hands-on children's museum ($10 children, $8 adults, free for 12 months and under) and annual membership sales.
4. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for community events such as the Scarecrow Contest and Festival sponsored by St. Mary's Hospital.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bourbonnais Township Park District is a municipal park district operating parks, recreational facilities, and community programs in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It maintains multiple parks (Perry Farm Park, Willowhaven Park, Diamond Point Park, Turnberry Park) and operates attractions including the Exploration Station children's discovery center and Recreation Station, offering fitness classes, youth and adult sports leagues, and facility rentals.

Product overview

Bourbonnais Township Park District operates as a community parks and recreation organization offering a portfolio of facilities and programs. Core facilities include Exploration Station (a children's hands-on discovery center), Recreation Station (fitness and wellness facility), Perry Farm Park, Willowhaven Park, and various other parks. The district provides recreational programs across all age groups including youth summer camps, athletic programs, therapeutic wellness classes, and community events such as Summer Concert Series and Food Truck Fridays. The organization also offers facility and park rentals for private events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Exploration Station: A hands-on discovery center for children and families
• Recreation Station
• Storybook Forest

Products and services

• Exploration Station A children's discovery center offering hands-on, interactive exhibits and educational play experiences for families and young visitors.
• Recreation Station Community recreation facility hosting fitness classes, youth and adult programs, and indoor/outdoor activity spaces.
• Perry Farm Park A district-operated park providing open green space, trails, and outdoor recreation amenities for community use.
• Willowhaven Park A community park offering outdoor recreation space for residents and visitors.
• Diamond Point Park A community park offering outdoor recreation space and amenities for district residents and visitors.
• Turnberry Park A community park offering outdoor recreation space and amenities for district residents and visitors.
• Recreational Programs Scheduled community programs including fitness classes, youth and adult sports leagues, camps, and enrichment activities offered to district residents.
• Facility Rentals Rental of district facilities (such as pavilions, Recreation Station space, and other park amenities) for private events and gatherings.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KultureCitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024National nonprofit dedicated to sensory inclusion. BTPD partnered with KultureCity to achieve sensory inclusion certification at Exploration Station, including a new Sensory Room with weighted lap pads, soft lighting, interactive light cubes, and sensory bags.
• River Valley Special Recreation Association (RVSRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024RVSRA collaborated on the Sensory Room at Exploration Station. Proceeds from the Chocolate Tour and contributions from RVSRA funded the sensory room creation. RVSRA provides expertise in serving individuals with special needs.
• St. Mary's HospitalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 August 2024St. Mary's Hospital sponsors the annual Scarecrow Contest and Festival at Perry Farm Park. The event draws over 100 entries and features community art, food vendors, and voting that benefits a charity.
• Chicago CubsminorOthersBTPD staff visited Chicago Cubs (first MLB team in KultureCity initiative) to learn about sensory inclusion implementation.
• Chicago White SoxminorOthersBTPD staff visited Chicago White Sox staff to learn about sensory inclusion implementation. White Sox were first MLB team to join KultureCity initiative.
• Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic OpportunitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState grant provider that partially funded the Storybook Forest exhibit at Exploration Station, the largest exhibit update in 30 years.
• Community Arts CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for the Fall Art Stroll event held in conjunction with the Scarecrow Contest and Festival at Perry Farm Park.
• Chicago Fire FCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChicago Fire FC provides youth soccer day camps through BTPD. Professional coaches deliver certified training incorporating Social and Emotional Learning themes.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of JolietminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides trained instructors for Therapeutic Tai Chi program. Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet supports senior wellness programming.
• Agency of Aging of Northeastern IllinoisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant provider funding the Therapeutic Tai Chi program for seniors, focusing on balance, mobility, and wellness.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Park District: Massive municipal park district operating hundreds of parks, facilities, museums, and event spaces across Chicago. Broadly comparable service model but at dramatically larger scale and scope.
• Chicago Children\u2019s Museum: Established children\u2019s museum at Navy Pier offering interactive exhibits and educational programming. Stronger brand and foot traffic than Exploration Station but serves similar market segment of families with young children.
• Forest Preserve District of Cook County: Large Illinois special-purpose government entity operating nature preserves and recreation areas. Comparable public-sector recreation operator with significantly larger geography and budget.

Direct peers

• Mokena Community Park District: Similar-scale Illinois park district with comparable parks, facility rentals, and recreational programming. Direct competitor for community programming within the region.
• Kankakee Valley Park District: Adjacent municipal park district serving the greater Kankakee County area. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping service geography and similar mix of parks, recreation programming, and facility rentals.
• Frankfort Park District: Illinois municipal park district of similar size operating parks, recreation programs, and event facilities. Comparable operating model with similar community-driven programming and tax-based funding.
• New Lenox Community Park District: Suburban Illinois park district with comparable size and programming including youth athletics, fitness, and community events. Strong overlap in programming structure and revenue mix.
• Discovery Center Museum: Children\u2019s hands-on discovery museum in Rockford, IL. Direct peer to Exploration Station with comparable exhibit-based children\u2019s museum model, admission pricing, and educational programming.

Emerging players

• DuPage Children\u2019s Museum: Nonprofit children\u2019s museum in Naperville, IL offering hands-on exhibits similar to Exploration Station. Comparable single-site children\u2019s museum business model with admission-based revenue.

Others

• National Recreation and Park Association: National trade association for park and recreation professionals. Not a competitor but a peer ecosystem organization providing certification, advocacy, and programming resources to municipal park districts like BTPD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BourbonnaisTPD
• Facebookfacebook.com/bourbtwpparkdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bourbonnais-township-park-dist

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Bourbonnais Township Park District