St. Charles Park District's open gym options keep residents active all winter

When the temperatures drop and you and your family need a place to burn off some energy, the St. Charles Park District has you covered.

Pottawatomie Community Center and Sportsplex both offer open gym timeslots throughout the week for all ages to run around, play sports, socialize and have fun.

Take your littlest wiggler to Preschool Playtime at Pottawatomie, to ride tricycles, climb and slip down slides, teeter totter, run, jump, laugh, spin – whatever it takes to get the energy out -- outside the house and in from the cold.

Sportsplex also offers preschool open play, providing sports balls, hula hoops, colorful poly spots, and more. If preschoolers and older children attend, staff will split the turf field for age appropriate activities.

“Designated open play gives children an opportunity to just play,” said Sportsplex Supervisor Cayla Greenfield. “They’re not focusing on winning or losing or who they’re going to pass the ball to; they’re just having fun, being physically active and socializing.”

If you or your older children love to shoot hoops, Pottawatomie offers Family Basketball on the weekends and Youth Basketball during the holiday break. Children must be accompanied by an individual age 16 and older.

Another option for college age children or local working professionals is 18
Plus Basketball at Pottawatomie, an open gym held during the lunch hour to get some exercise before heading back to the office to finish the day.

Since Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, Pottawatomie also hosts open gym dedicated to the sport for players to learn, practice and meet other enthusiasts in a causal, laid-back atmosphere.

“Pickleball is a popular sport in the community,” said Sabrina Killeen, Pottawatomie supervisor. “The open gym is a great way for newcomers to learn the sport before committing to a lesson or league. It also allows experienced players to share and teach others during pick-up games.”

If you’re an adult who enjoys playing soccer, Sportsplex has a few options for open play pick-up games for Women 18 Plus, Men 30 Plus and Adult 18 Plus.

The fee for Pottawatomie open gym is $3 per person. A 10-visit punch pass is available for $25. View the calendar of open gym times and dates at: https://www.stcparks.org/calendar-pottawatomie-community-center-open-gym/. For more information, call Sabrina Killeen at 630-513-4329.

Sportsplex also offers open play for all ages on select Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. The fee is $10 per player. For availability, check the website at https://www.stcsportsplex.org/open-play/. For more information, call Cayla Greenfield at 630-513-4386.