What Arlington Heights Park District does

Arlington Heights Park District (AHPD) is a special-purpose unit of local government in Illinois, established in 1925 and headquartered at 410 N Arlington Heights Rd in Arlington Heights. It operates an integrated network of parks (including Lake Arlington and Canine Commons), the Arlington Ridge Center (ARC) fitness facility, Camelot Park and Pioneer Park community centers, indoor and outdoor pools, golf and tennis clubs, a Senior Center, and the Arlington Heights Historical Museum. The organization employs 501-1,000 staff and serves Arlington Heights residents, with auxiliary offerings for non-residents at higher price points.

AHPD's service portfolio spans aquatics, athletics, camps, before/after-school care (CAP), cultural arts, early childhood education, preschool, fitness, and senior programming, plus adaptive recreation delivered through the NWSRA partnership. Pricing is structured as tiered ARC memberships (SPLASHpass, FITpass, PLUSpass, BASICpass) with 12-month commitments and pay-in-full or monthly billing, supplemented by program registration fees, daily usage fees, facility rentals, and banquet/event packages. Registration runs through the third-party ActiveNet platform.

The revenue model is anchored by local property tax revenue, augmented by subscription-style memberships, program registration fees, transaction-based facility rentals and daily access fees, and periodic state OSLAD capital grants via the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via owned facilities, the ActiveNet self-serve portal, and printed program guides, with marketing through ahpd.org, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, email newsletters, seasonal program guides on Issuu, and community events such as the long-running Holiday Tree Lighting tradition. AHPD has received sustained recognition including 22 consecutive GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards and Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency status.

Name

Arlington Heights Park District

Legal name

Arlington Heights Park District

Website

https://ahpd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Arlington Heights Park District is an Illinois unit of local government, founded in 1925, that operates parks, the Arlington Ridge Center fitness facility, pools, golf and tennis clubs, community centers, and a historical museum serving Arlington Heights residents through tax-funded and fee-based programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Park and Recreation Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Fitness & Park Bootcamps (HSADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campus Recreation Centers & Fitness Facilities Operations (EDALAIAD), Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO), Outdoor Adventure & Action Sports Parks (Ski Resorts, Bike Parks, Skateparks) (MPAKAEAL), Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG)

Keywords

• Municipal parks recreation
• Community recreation programs
• Public park facilities
• Aquatics fitness services
• Leisure activity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source through local property taxes collected from Arlington Heights residents, typical for Illinois park districts.
2. Membership Fees: Annual and monthly membership fees for ARC (Arlington Ridge Center) fitness facility, including family, couple, and individual plans with resident and non-resident rates.
3. Program Registration Fees: Fees for recreational programs including aquatics, athletics, camps, cultural arts, early childhood, fitness, preschool, and senior programs.
4. Facility Rentals: Rental income from various facilities including pool rentals, banquet rentals at Arlington Lakes, general facility rentals, and party packages.
5. Government Grants: State funding through Illinois Department of Natural Resources OSLAD grants for park improvements and development projects.
6. Daily Usage Fees: Pay-per-use fees for pool access, fitness center, track, gym, pickleball, volleyball, and fitness classes for non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Arlington Heights Park District operates a network of parks, recreation facilities, and community programming for Arlington Heights, Illinois residents. Core offerings include the Arlington Ridge Center (ARC) fitness facility, community centers, swimming pools, golf and tennis clubs, senior center, and the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, supported by tiered memberships, program registrations, and facility rentals.

Product overview

The Arlington Heights Park District operates a comprehensive suite of recreational facilities and programs serving the Arlington Heights community since 1925. The organization offers parks and natural spaces (including Lake Arlington and specialty parks), the Arlington Ridge Center (ARC) as its primary fitness facility with tiered memberships, community centers, swimming pools, golf and tennis clubs, a Senior Center, and the Arlington Heights Historical Museum. Recreation programming spans aquatics, athletics, camps, cultural arts, early childhood education, and fitness classes. The district also manages facility rentals for private events and offers seasonal activities including pickleball programs and summer concert series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parks and Natural Spaces Public parks and natural spaces managed by the district, including Lake Arlington, outdoor courts, Canine Commons dog park, garden plots, ice rinks, sled hills, and environmental conservation areas for community recreation use.
• Arlington Ridge Center (ARC) Primary recreation center offering fitness amenities, gymnasium, indoor track, pools, and group exercise facilities for individuals and families in Arlington Heights.
• Community Centers Neighborhood community centers including Camelot Park and Pioneer Park providing programming and gathering spaces for residents of all ages.
• Swimming Pools Outdoor and indoor pool facilities offering lap swimming, recreational swimming, and water exercise classes for residents and visitors.
• Golf and Tennis Clubs Golf and tennis facilities offering court time, lessons, and leagues for players of all skill levels within the Arlington Heights community.
• Senior Center Programming and services for seniors including fitness classes, movement programs, social activities, and educational opportunities for adults aged 65 and over.
• Arlington Heights Historical Museum Historical museum featuring exhibits, educational programs, and community events that connect residents to local history, housing artifacts and archives documenting the community's past.
• ARC Memberships (SPLASHpass, FITpass, PLUSpass, BASICpass) Tiered fitness center memberships at the Arlington Ridge Center offering access to pools, fitness centers, track, gymnasium, fitness classes, and water exercise. Memberships require 12-month commitment with pay-in-full or monthly payment options.
• Pickleball Programs Indoor pickleball open play, classes for beginner and advanced beginner skill levels, and PicklePass seasonal memberships at ARC and Pioneer Park locations.
• Recreation Programs Diverse programming including aquatics, athletics, camps, before/after school care (CAP), cultural arts, early childhood education, preschool, and fitness programs for children, adults, and seniors.
• Facility Rentals Rental options for general facilities, pools, and party packages including Arlington Lakes Banquet Rentals for private events.
• Stars & Stories: Arlington Heights's Old Glory Exhibit New museum exhibit at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum featuring a historic American flag with roots in 1860s Dunton that returned to public display after expert conservation, with educational content about the conservation process.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Illinois Association of Museums (IAM)minorOthers · 14 April 2026Statewide museum association that provides accreditation, awards, and professional development for museum operations.
• Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD)minorOthers · 3 November 2025Statewide park district association that recognizes outstanding volunteer contributions through annual awards.
• Arlington Heights Park FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit foundation supporting park improvements, recreation programs, and community engagement. Hosts annual events including Golf Outing and Pickleball in the Park to raise funds for park projects.
• NWSRA (Northwest Special Recreation Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing adaptive and inclusive recreation programs for individuals with disabilities in Arlington Heights and surrounding communities.
• PDRMA (Park District Risk Management Agency)minorOthersRisk management consortium providing insurance and safety resources for park districts.
• Village of Arlington HeightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for community events including Holiday Tree Lighting (since 1991), Night in the Heights (formerly National Night Out), Heritage Fest, and other collaborative initiatives.
• Garoppolo FamilyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Jimmy Garoppolo Museum Gift Shop Case exhibit featuring memorabilia from the Garoppolo family at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Naperville Park District: Large Illinois park district serving a comparable affluent Chicago suburb. Operates fitness centers, aquatic facilities, golf, programming for all ages, and historical interpretation (Naper Settlement). Comparable comprehensive municipal recreation model at slightly larger scale.
• Glenview Park District: North-suburban Chicago park district operating The Park Center fitness facility, pools, golf, tennis, and extensive youth/senior programming. Closely mirrors AHPD's fitness-center-anchored, multi-facility operating model.
• Buffalo Grove Park District: Adjacent north-suburban park district offering the Alcott Center fitness/recreation complex, pools, sports programming, and early childhood services. Direct geographic and operational comparable to AHPD.
• Elk Grove Park District: Adjacent southwest-suburban park district (Elk Grove Village) providing fitness, aquatics, sports, and youth programming. Operates a similar mix of community-center, pool, and outdoor recreation assets.
• Des Plaines Park District: Nearby north-suburban park district operating Prairie Lakes Community Center, pools, fitness, and senior services. Comparable comprehensive programming and facility footprint to AHPD.
• Mount Prospect Park District: Neighboring northwest-suburban park district with a community center, pool, athletic programming, and family-focused recreation services. Highly comparable in size, demographics, and facility mix to AHPD.
• Schaumburg Park District: Adjacent Chicago-suburban park district of similar scale serving ~78,000 residents. Operates comparable facilities including a major fitness/recreation center (The Center), pools, sports courts, community centers, and a senior center. Closest like-for-like municipal recreation peer to AHPD.
• Palatine Park District: Neighboring northwest-suburban park district offering community centers, pools, fitness programming, preschool, and active adult/senior services. Directly comparable operating model and customer base to AHPD.
• Park Ridge Park District: Northwest-suburban park district with fitness center, pool, preschool, and senior programming. Comparable affluent-suburb demographic profile and similar revenue mix of tax + fees + programming.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Large regional nonprofit operating fitness centers, pools, youth programs, and senior services across Chicagoland. Closest non-municipal analog to AHPD's fitness-center and community-programming mix, though structured as a private nonprofit with broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ahparkdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arlington-heights-park-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/ahparkdistrict
• Xx.com/ahparkdistrict

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Arlington Heights Park District