3000 Glenview Road
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-256-9686
Fax 847-251-4930

Community Recreation Center Staff
Jeff Groves, Manager of Recreation Services
Michael Sneed, Center Fitness Club Manager
Paul Caskey, Sports Supervisor
Sarah Hillby, Sports Supervisor
Holly Specht, Cultural Arts Supervisor
Bob Bierie, Performing Arts Supervisor
Jim Scully, Gymnastics Supervisor
Shelli Zebrowski, General Recreation Supervisor
Wendy Caspersen, Early Childhood Supervisor
Liz Manning, Office Manager
Jacque Crane, Lori Eisner, Antoinette Carson Administrative Assistants

The Wilmette Park District's Community Recreation Center, dedicated on October 22, 1995, offers 94,000 square feet of recreational programming space for exercise and health; art and ceramics; performing arts; dance; music; gymnastics and sports. The Community Recreation Center is located on five acres of land adjacent to the eight-acre Hibbard Park and features workshops; dance and exercise studios; gymnastics gymnasium; a sports gym and an Auditorium for the performing arts. The center is also the home base for the Early Childhood Center; the Center Fitness Club; Wilmette Gymnastics, North Shore Theater of Wilmette and the Wilmette Children's Theatre.

We've Got the Room For You at the Community Recreation Center!

Is your house too small to hold that BIG event? Whatever the occasion-- a birthday, meeting, bazaar or family get-together--you can Rent-a-Room that meets your space requirements. The Grosse Pointe Room with adjacent kitchen facilities is great for a group. We also have activity rooms, dance and exercise studios that can be rented. Call 847-256-9686 to reserve a room at the Community Recreation Center or for more detailed party and meeting information.

Early Childhood Center
Wendy Caspersen, Supervisor
847-256-9119
Fax 847-251-4930

The Wilmette Park District's Early Childhood Center offers a Preschool for three and four year olds; a Kindergarten Enrichment Program for morning and afternoon kindergartners and coordinates After-School Recreation programs for children in grades K-6.

Preschool

It is the goal of the Preschool to provide an early childhood program for three and four year olds in an environment that is nurturing and fosters a solid foundation of self-confidence and growth. The program, licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services, is based on the belief that children learn through play and by doing. Given the opportunity to play, children explore, discover, gain a sense of self-esteem and learn to cooperate with others. Through different experiences, children develop their social, emotional and physical skills.

The Early Childhood Center follows the Wilmette Public Schools District 39 calendar of full days off. For the current school year, children must be 3-years-old by September 1 and be toilet trained. The Early Childhood Center offers a special 4-day morning program for older 3-year-olds to accommodate the rapid development of fine motor and cognitive skills within this age group. Children must be 3-years-old by May 1 to enroll in this program. Please call 847-256-9119 for information.

Kindergarten Enrichment

A quality enrichment experience for kindergarten-age children attending the Wilmette Public Schools in District 39 is offered by the Wilmette Park District. Its purpose is to provide a unique and multifaceted program designed to spark children's interest in a variety of activities such as art, music, movement, story dictating, gymnastics and more.

The program offers a two-day and five day option which include a variety of new experiences, both in the classroom and through numerous field trips to places such as the hospital, library, theatre, animal hospital and museums to name a few. Classes offer a balance of both structured and unstructured activities. Activity areas to choose from include blocks, quiet time, dramatic play, small and large motor activities as well as areas for music, art and science/discovery.

Both the Two-Day and Five-Day Kindergarten Enrichment programs include a hot catered lunch. Busing to or from the child's kindergarten school is provided for a separate fee. This program follows the Wilmette Public Schools District 39 calendar of full days off. Working parents who desire extended hours for their child can enroll in an "Early Bird" program beginning at 8 a.m. and/or the After School Recreation program that goes from 3-6 p.m. There is an additional fee for each program. Busing to or from Kindergarten Enrichment is also offered for an additional fee. Call 847-256-9119 for space availability and information.

After School Recreation

The Wilmette Park District offers an After-School Recreation program for students in grades K-6 whose parents work and are not home after school. Families are offered the option of registering children for three or five days a week. The three-day participants may choose which three days they prefer, based on space availability according to DCFS licensing standards, but the three days must remain constant throughout a semester. Children will meet 3 p.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wilmette Public Schools District 39 days off. The qualified, caring staff not only provides group attention, but also gives time to children on an individualized basis. Call 847-256-9119 for space availability and payment information.

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