Winnebago Park District

08/31/2026

The Winnebago Park District office will be closed next Monday, September 7 in honor of the Labor Day holiday.

08/31/2026

The latest Park news and updates.
Please note an updated list of food trucks and vendors for Saturday in the Park.

08/26/2026

Save the date! 🎃 More details coming soon.

The Winnebago Park District and Winnebago PTO are teaming up for a fun-filled Sunday, October 18th!

🏃 Monster Dash 1K Fun Run (ages 2-10) – High School track, starting at 11:30 am (Park District)
🚗 Trunk or Treat – Middle School parking lot, 12:00–2:00 pm (PTO)

Come run, trunk-or-treat, and celebrate fall with your Winnebago neighbors. Stay tuned for 1K registration info and more details!

08/25/2026

Interested in serving on the park board? Candidates can start collecting the required 25 resident signatures today. Election packets are available at the park office. Unfortunately, our phones are still out so please email [email protected] to be sure we are in the office and not out in the parks.

𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙜𝙤 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩?

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙜𝙤 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 6, 2027 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙩:

One (1) four-year term
Two (2) two-year unexpired terms

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

To run for Park District Commissioner, a candidate must:

* Be a registered voter.
* Have lived within the Winnebago Park District for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
* Meet all qualifications required by the Illinois Election Code and the Illinois Park District Code.

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬

Candidate packets are available at the Winnebago Park District Office during regular business hours but please call 815/335-3211 to first to confirm we're in the office and not out in the parks.
The packet contains the required forms, petition sheets, filing instructions, and additional information needed to become a candidate.

𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Candidates may begin collecting signatures on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Signatures collected before that date are not valid.

Each candidate must collect the required number of valid signatures from registered voters who reside within the Winnebago Park District. The required number of signatures is included in the candidate packet.

𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝

Completed candidate petitions and all required filing documents must be filed during the official filing period:

Monday, November 16, 2026, through Monday, November 23, 2026

Petitions cannot be accepted before or after the official filing period.
Election Dates

February 23, 2027: Consolidated Primary (only if required by law)
April 6, 2027: Consolidated Election ([Sangamon County][2])

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲?

In most cases, no. Illinois park district commissioner elections proceed directly to the April Consolidated Election unless more candidates file than the threshold established by Illinois election law.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭:

* The one four-year seat would require a primary only if more than four candidates file.
* The ywo two-year seats would require a primary only if more than eight candidates file.

If those thresholds are not exceeded, all qualified candidates will appear on the April 6, 2027 ballot.

If you are interested in serving your community as a Park District Commissioner, please stop by the Winnebago Park District Office to pick up a candidate packet or contact the office with any questions.

08/20/2026

We ❤️ our sponsors!
Big thanks to Culver's, German-American State Bank, Machesney Park Family Dental, and Becca Ireland - Country Financial for their support of our fall soccer program. Sponsorships like these make a BIG difference and we appreciate it so much! Our soccer teams start their season this Saturday. We hope they have fun, learn a lot, continue to build their skills and have success on the field!

08/19/2026

We are sorry to report that the park office is still without Frontier phone service. We apologize for this ongoing convenience and ask that you email us at info@winnebagoparkdistrict while this issue is being resolved. Thank you.

08/18/2026

Basketball? Already? Our K/1st league starts in November so yes, it's time to get registered! Visit our catalog for more info and to register your players starting tomorrow. If interested in coaching, please email us at [email protected] prior to registering so we can give you the coupon code for a free player registration.
https://secure.rec1.com/IL/village-winnebago-park-district-il/catalog

08/17/2026

The park has been without Frontier phone service for several days. Frontier has notified us they are still working on this issue. We apologize for the inconvenience and will monitor email to be sure we receive your inquiries. Please email [email protected]
Thank you!

08/14/2026

Our raised bed plants and flowers are loving all the rain! We appreciate all the work Cub Scout Pack 5 and Amy Sandager put into planting these beds in the spring and so do the birds, bees and butterflies!

08/14/2026

Park District Commissioner candidate packets will be available to pick up in the park district office on Monday, 8/17 and candidates can start gathering signatures on 8/25. Please call 815/335-3211 prior to visiting, as we are often outside the office this time of year. More information about running for the park board can be found here:
https://www.elections.il.gov/RunningForOffice.aspx?MID=rOlNCTNZd9A%3d

𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙜𝙤 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩?

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙜𝙤 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 6, 2027 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙩:

One (1) four-year term
Two (2) two-year unexpired terms

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

To run for Park District Commissioner, a candidate must:

* Be a registered voter.
* Have lived within the Winnebago Park District for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
* Meet all qualifications required by the Illinois Election Code and the Illinois Park District Code.

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬

Candidate packets are available at the Winnebago Park District Office during regular business hours but please call 815/335-3211 to first to confirm we're in the office and not out in the parks.
The packet contains the required forms, petition sheets, filing instructions, and additional information needed to become a candidate.

𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Candidates may begin collecting signatures on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Signatures collected before that date are not valid.

Each candidate must collect the required number of valid signatures from registered voters who reside within the Winnebago Park District. The required number of signatures is included in the candidate packet.

𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝

Completed candidate petitions and all required filing documents must be filed during the official filing period:

Monday, November 16, 2026, through Monday, November 23, 2026

Petitions cannot be accepted before or after the official filing period.
Election Dates

February 23, 2027: Consolidated Primary (only if required by law)
April 6, 2027: Consolidated Election ([Sangamon County][2])

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲?

In most cases, no. Illinois park district commissioner elections proceed directly to the April Consolidated Election unless more candidates file than the threshold established by Illinois election law.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭:

* The one four-year seat would require a primary only if more than four candidates file.
* The ywo two-year seats would require a primary only if more than eight candidates file.

If those thresholds are not exceeded, all qualified candidates will appear on the April 6, 2027 ballot.

If you are interested in serving your community as a Park District Commissioner, please stop by the Winnebago Park District Office to pick up a candidate packet or contact the office with any questions.