Minooka’s Aux Sable Springs Park now open

MINOOKA – The village of Minooka and the Greater Channahon-Minooka Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of Aux Sable Springs Park on Dec. 18 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 120-acre park has been in the works for more than 15 years starting with land acquisition, Village Administrator Dan Duffy said. After the village received an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant for $400,000, it was able to begin construction. The grant covered almost half the cost, so construction started in early winter 2019.

“The park has several athletic and recreational amenities, including three soccer fields, a lacrosse field and a pinwheel softball/baseball complex,” Duffy said. “To keep the little ones entertained, a kid play land was also included. Also, the trail system runs through and along the Aux Sable Creek, giving the public an opportunity to see the local flora and fauna, and is roughly a mile long with extension trails planned in the future.

“In addition, along with the trails are council rings, fishing outcroppings and a canoe launch for those that want to enjoy the pristine waters of the Aux Sable.”

The village plans a second phase for the park project, which will include more trails, wetland preservation and additional amenities along Aux Sable Creek. The park is open from dawn to dusk.

On Dec. 18, village officials including Minooka Mayor Pat Brennan and village trustees, along with the developers, attended a ribbon-cutting hosted by the Channahon-Minooka Chamber to celebrate the grand opening. Brennan thanked members of the Village Board’s Parks Committee for their hard work on the park and had Committee Chairman Terry Houchens cut the ribbon.

“Aux Sable Springs Park is a gorgeous addition to Minooka,” said Christina Van Yperen, Grundy County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “Families, residents and visitors will build memories there for years to come.”

A video of the park’s ribbon-cutting ceremony can be found at Minooka.com and on the Chamber’s Facebook page.

“The village is trying to offer a little something for everyone in the community. Whether that might be playing sports at the multiple fields, fishing, canoeing and hiking, or simply taking in the natural beauty of the Aux Sable Creek that the village is trying to preserve,” Duffy said. “If you’re quiet, you might just catch [sight of] the pair of bald eagles that live there.”

For information on the park, visit Minooka.com. For information on the Chamber, visit grundychamber.com. The Channahon-Minooka Chamber is an entity of the Grundy County Chamber.