Bradley Park {Peoria} // This large park, located adjacent to Bradley University, was established in the late 19th century. Filled with amenities that will appeal to dog lovers and sports fans alike, the park traverses a high-bluff woodland that grades down into the floodplain of Dry Run Creek. Along with numerous picnic sites, the park also features a beautiful Japanese bridge.
Banner Marsh State Fish + Wildlife Area {Canton} // Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Peoria on U.S. Route 24 and is protected from the Illinois River by a major levee. Teeming with fish and wildlife, Banner Marsh provides outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, boating, dog training, picnicking, wildlife observation and photography. Three public access areas lead into Banner Marsh, all of which have parking lots, boat ramps, restrooms and picnic areas.
Cooper Park North {East Peoria} // Cooper Park North is a bird spotters paradise, with a large open space and a forest trail with midway access to the Illinois River Road Trail. See what kind of wildlife you can spy from the wetland views along the trail, or soaring above the forest. Water lovers can paddle or fish along the river, and your furry friend will love the shady path that winds through the trees.
Detweiller Park {Peoria} // Detweiller is a popular multi-use destination for those who enjoy running/walking, soccer, volleyball, hiking, birding, and many other outdoor activities. Detweiller Drive, which runs through much of the park, features one of the finest, most diverse collections of oaks around. Nature lovers will love exploring one or more of the park’s 5+ miles of hiking trails traversing the Illinois River bluffs.
Donovan Park {Peoria} // Formerly a Peoria Park District golf course in the heart of the city, Donovan offers an observatory open to the public, a sculpture garden, fishing in three ponds, several picnic tables and Cyd’s in the Park—a locally owned gourmet restaurant.
Forest Park Nature Center {Peoria} // This 500-acre Illinois Nature Preserve offers 7 miles of hiking trails with all ranges of difficulty. The center also features a natural history museum, spacious bird watching room, nature hikes, guided walks and a nature store.
Grandview Drive + Park {Peoria Heights} // Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Grand View Drive is a 2.52 mile meandering pleasure driveway constructed in 1903, according to the Peoria Park District website. The “world’s most beautiful drive,” as President Theodore Roosevelt referred to it in a visit to Peoria in 1910, offers visitors numerous panoramic scenic views of the Illinois River Valley and the chance to view many historic and remarkable homes lining it.
Jubilee College State Park {Brimfield} // This 3,200-acre facility is located in Peoria County between the towns of Kickapoo and Brimfield. A scenic area with rolling topography and meandering streams, Jubilee offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. It is home to Jubilee College (circa 1839), which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Wildlife Prairie Park {Hanna City} // Located 10 miles west of Downtown Peoria, Wildlife Prairie Park has been referred to as a jewel in the Midwest. Opened in the 1970s, the park features over 1,800 acres of woodland and prairie inhabited by over 150 animals of 60 different species that are native to Illinois.
Powerton Lake State Fish + Wildlife Area {Pekin} // Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Lake packs 1,426 acres of boating, fishing, and waterfowl hunting. It’s also a birding hotspot, with reported sightings of more than 170 species. The fortified fishing waters draw anglers from far and wide, seeking Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Stripers, Bluegill, Crappie, and the more popular species of Catfish.
