Prospect Heights Park District Inc

What Prospect Heights Park District Inc does

Prospect Heights Park District is a special purpose unit of local government organized under Illinois state statute (70 ILCS 1205/1 et seq.), established in 1966 to deliver parks, recreation facilities, and community programming to residents of Prospect Heights and adjacent Cook County communities. The district operates 17 parks and facilities, anchored by the Gary Morava Recreation Center (fitness center, gymnasium, dance studio, racquetball and wallyball courts, meeting rooms, outdoor tennis and pickleball courts), the seasonal Lions Pool, the 18-hole Old Orchard Country Club with banquet facilities in Mount Prospect, and 14+ neighborhood parks. Programming spans aquatics (Typhoons swim team, year-round swim lessons), youth athletics (basketball, baseball, soccer, golf leagues), dance and performing arts, the Creative Kids Preschool and KinderStop before/after care programs, summer camps for ages 3 through 10th grade, fitness and active adult services, special events, and facility rentals.

The revenue model is a hybrid of property tax base plus user fees, with eight identifiable revenue streams including subscription fitness memberships ($80-$205 annual individual rates with resident/non-resident tiers), pool season passes, monthly preschool tuition ($165-$355), transactional program registration, daily admission, facility and pavilion rentals, birthday party packages, and golf operations including green fees, memberships, and banquets. Pricing follows a tiered resident/partner-resident/non-resident structure where partner residents from River Trails Park District, Mount Prospect Park District, and School District 23 access resident rates only on non-resident registration dates. Distribution is omnichannel: online via the CivicRec platform (adopted August 2024, replacing RecTrac), walk-in at the Gary Morava front desk, mail, fax, and phone for active adult trips, with sponsorship and event-based marketing layered on top.

Operations are community-embedded through cooperative agreements: a joint youth soccer league with River Trails Park District, KinderStop before/after-care coordination with School District 23, and affiliation with the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) for inclusive programming. The technology stack is operational rather than differentiated, anchored by the Thor Guard Lightning Prediction System (97% accuracy within a 2-mile radius at Lions Park and Old Orchard Country Club) and the CivicRec registration platform. Governance rests with an elected Board of Commissioners led by President Tim Jones; day-to-day operations are managed by Executive Director Christina Ferraro (CPRE), supported by department superintendents for Recreation, Parks and Facilities, Finance/HR/IT, and Golf. The district has qualified for the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for over a decade and received the 2023 Illinois Association of Park Districts' Best of the Best Arts in the Park Award.

Name

Prospect Heights Park District Inc

Legal name

Prospect Heights Park District Inc

Website

https://phparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Recreation Centers & Fitness Facilities Operations (EDALAIAD)

Keywords

• Municipal park services
• Recreation programs
• Community fitness facilities
• Youth athletics leagues
• Aquatic recreation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Prospect Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fitness and Recreation Memberships: Annual, semi-annual, and quarterly fitness center memberships for residents and non-residents, with varying rates for individuals, families, students, and seniors.
2. Daily Facility Fees: Daily admission fees for fitness center, open gym, racquetball courts, and Wallyball court reservations.
3. Pool Passes and Daily Admission: Season pool passes (early bird, regular, half-season) and daily admission fees for Lions Pool.
4. Facility and Pavilion Rentals: Indoor room rentals, outdoor pavilion rentals, court reservations, and field rentals for events and private functions.
5. Birthday Party Packages: Various birthday party packages including sports, dance, Nerf battle, and other themed parties at per-person rates.
6. Preschool and Childcare Programs: Monthly tuition for preschool programs and before/after care services with registration deposits.
7. Recreation Program Fees: Fees for youth and adult athletics, swim lessons, swim team, dance programs, summer camps, and other recreational activities.
8. Golf Operations (Old Orchard Country Club): Golf course operations including green fees, memberships, banquets, and event rentals at the 18-hole Old Orchard Country Club.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Prospect Heights Park District operates public parks and delivers recreation programs, athletic leagues, swim instruction, preschool and before/after-school care, summer camps, dance and performing arts, fitness facilities, and an 18-hole golf course with banquet services. Core facilities include the Gary Morava Recreation Center, Lions Pool, Old Orchard Country Club, and 14+ neighborhood parks serving Prospect Heights residents and partner-district residents.

Product overview

Prospect Heights Park District operates as a single unified parks and recreation organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of facilities and programs. Core facilities include the Gary Morava Recreation Center (main hub with gym, fitness center, pool, and meeting spaces), Lions Pool (seasonal outdoor aquatic facility), Old Orchard Country Club (18-hole golf course with banquet services), and 14+ neighborhood parks. The program portfolio spans aquatic activities (swim team, swim lessons), youth development (Creative Kids Preschool, KinderStop before/after care, summer camps ranging from Early Explorers to Travel Camp), fitness (fitness center, pickleball, yoga, Jazzercise), dance and performing arts, youth athletics (basketball, baseball, soccer, golf), adult programs, and special community events. The district manages registrations through the CivicRec online platform and offers facility rentals and birthday party packages. Public Wi-Fi is available at main facilities. The overall offering is a community recreation ecosystem rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prospect Heights Parks Foundation: A charitable foundation affiliated with the park district for fundraising and park improvements.
• Gary Morava Recreation Center
• Typhoons Swim Team
• Creative Kids Preschool
• Old Orchard Country Club

Products and services

• Gary Morava Recreation Center Primary recreation facility offering a full-size basketball gym, fitness center, dance room, meeting rooms with kitchens, racquetball court, fitness studio, locker rooms with saunas, five outdoor tennis courts, two outdoor pickleball courts, softball/baseball field, and seasonal outdoor swimming pool.
• Lions Pool Seasonal outdoor aquatic facility featuring six lap lanes, water slide, zero-depth area, and open swim. Operates from early June through mid-August with daily admission and seasonal passes available.
• Old Orchard Country Club 18-hole golf course with banquet facility and meeting rooms located at 700 W. Rand Road, Mount Prospect, operated by the park district.
• Parks Properties Network of 14+ parks including Claire Lane Park, Izaak Walton Park, Jaycee Park, John Muir Park, Kiwanis Park, Lions Park, McDonald Field, Rosemary Roth Park, School Street Park, Somerset Park, Tully Park, Walnut Woods, and Wedgewood Park, offering amenities such as playgrounds, sports fields, walking paths, pickleball, tennis, and picnic areas.
• Typhoons Swim Team Competitive summer swim team part of the Northern Illinois Swim Conference, offering dual meets and divisional championships for children ages 5-18.
• Swim Lessons Year-round swim instruction program with weekday and Saturday sessions, levels including Adult and Tot, Jellyfish, Sea Turtle, Penguin, and Star Fish, plus private and semi-private lessons available.
• Creative Kids Preschool Two-year preschool program for ages 2.5-4 using Jolly Phonics, STEM, and Handwriting Without Tears curriculum, preparing children for kindergarten with classes at Gary Morava Recreation Center.
• KinderStop and Before/After School Care Half-day enrichment program for preschool and kindergarten children, plus before and after school care services operated in cooperation with School District 23.
• Summer Camp Programs Comprehensive summer camp portfolio including Early Explorers (ages 3-4), Explorers Camp (K-2nd), Adventure Camp (3rd-6th), Sports Camp (2nd-8th), Travel Camp (5th-8th), Creative and Performing Arts Day Camp (1st-10th), and Performing Arts Production Camp (1st-10th), plus before and after care.
• Dance and Performing Arts Programs Dance instruction including Ballet, Ballet & Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Poms, Princess Ballet, K-Pop, and Competition Dance Team with Star Studio for ages 6 and up.
• Fitness Center Membership Fitness facility with cardio equipment (LifeFitness Treadmills, Precor Ellipticals, Concept 2 Rowers, NuStep T4R Trainers), strength machines, free weights, power rig, and sauna access. Offers SilverSneakers and Renew Active programs.
• Pickleball Programs Adult open play pickleball at Gary Morava Recreation Center gym with Recreational level (Tuesdays/Thursdays) and Competitive level (Monday/Wednesday/Friday), October through May.
• Fitness Classes Group fitness offerings including Yoga (evening sessions) and Jazzercise dance-based workout, held at Fitness Studio and Gary Morava Recreation Center.
• Youth Baseball and Softball Youth baseball, T-ball, and softball league for boys and girls ages 6-15, operated through Prospect Heights Youth Baseball/Softball (PHYBS) affiliate.
• Youth Basketball League Volunteer-coached youth basketball program for grades K-6th running January through March, plus Jr. High Basketball League cooperative conference with Mt. Prospect, River Trails, Wheeling, and Northbrook.
• Youth Soccer Programs Cooperative youth soccer league with River Trails Park District for multiple age groups, plus Chicago Fire Soccer gameplay clinics and Hot Shots soccer classes for ages 3-8.
• Birthday Party Packages Event celebration packages including Sports Party, Ultimate Birthday Bash, Dance Party, Nerf Battle Party, Mini Ninja Warrior Party, and Stuff & Fluff Party at Gary Morava Recreation Center.
• Facility Rentals Rental options for indoor spaces (Elm Room, Pine Room, Gym, Fitness Studio, Racquetball/Wallyball Courts) and outdoor areas (pavilions, sports fields, tennis/pickleball courts) at various parks.
• Special Events Community events including Prospect Heights National Night Out, Golden Years Wellness Expo, Block Party (celebrating 60th anniversary in 2026), Spookfest, Spring Fling, Holiday Trolley Express, and seasonal celebrations.
• Kids Day Off Program Care program for school holidays offering games, sports, movies, and crafts with before care, program, and after care options.
• Active Adults Programs Recreation and trips for active adults including local and distant attraction visits with door-to-door pickup available, newsletter-based communications.

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• River Trails and Mount Prospect Park DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner resident agreement allowing residents of adjacent park districts to register for programs at resident rates. Soccer league operated as a cooperative with River Trails Park District.
• Prospect Heights School District 23coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement for the KinderStop program where the school district provides transportation for Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade participants. Partnership enables before/after school care coordination.
• Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization providing inclusive recreation services for individuals with special needs within the northwest suburban Chicago area.
• Prospect Heights Youth Baseball/Softball (PHYBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization operating the youth baseball and softball league for children ages 6-15 in the community.
• Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission (PHNRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated commission focused on natural resources and environmental stewardship, particularly in parks like Izaak Walton Park.
• Garden ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated garden club contributing to community gardening and beautification initiatives.
• Chicago Fire Soccer Club (MLS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago Fire of Major League Soccer provides coaches for soccer gameplay clinics and skill development sessions for youth program participants.
• Event SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses and organizations sponsor district events including National Night Out, Block Party, Spookfest, Golden Years Wellness Expo, and special events. Sponsorship packages available for event visibility and advertising opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Buffalo Grove Park District: Nearby suburban Chicago park district operating a similar portfolio (fitness, aquatics, sports, camps) in the same regional market. Comparable in scale and structure, serving a different but adjacent community.

Broad incumbents

• Schaumburg Park District: One of the larger suburban Chicago park districts, with extensive facilities including the Schaumburg Sport Center, waterpark, and major summer camp programs. Same governance model (special district) and program categories but materially larger scale.
• Arlington Heights Park District: Larger nearby park district operating multiple recreation centers, pools, ice rinks, and extensive athletic programming in the same northwest suburban market. Broader incumbent with overlapping but more extensive offerings than Prospect Heights.
• Glenview Park District: Established north-suburban Chicago park district offering comparable facilities and programs (fitness, aquatics, gymnastics, camps). Comparable operating model but larger scale and reach than Prospect Heights.
• Des Plaines Park District: Mid-sized suburban Chicago park district with similar recreation center, pool, golf, and youth programming portfolio. Operates in the same market context but with broader geographic reach.
• Palatine Park District: Substantial suburban Chicago park district with similar portfolio of fitness centers, pools, sports leagues, summer camps, and preschool programming. Larger scale and geography make it a broad incumbent rather than a direct neighbor competitor.

Emerging players

• Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA): Special recreation association affiliated with Prospect Heights and other northwest suburban park districts, providing inclusive recreation for individuals with disabilities. Adjacent rather than competitive; partners with the district to expand programming reach.

Direct peers

• Mount Prospect Park District: Adjacent Illinois park district that is a formal partner-resident partner of Prospect Heights and runs comparable facilities (pools, fitness centers, sports leagues, summer camps, preschool). Direct peer in scale, governance (special district), and product mix.
• River Trails Park District: Neighboring park district with a formal partner-resident agreement and cooperative soccer league with Prospect Heights. Operates similar recreation centers, pools, and youth programming for the same northwest suburban Chicago market.
• Wheeling Park District: Direct partner in the junior high basketball cooperative conference and an adjacent suburban Chicago park district. Similar size and program mix make it a strong comparable.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ProspectHtsPrks?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/prospectheightsparkdistrict
• Instagraminstagram.com/prospectheightsparkdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prospect-heights-park-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Prospect Heights Park District Inc