Blackberry Farm to Host Appreciation Day for Park District Residents

As they say, being a member certainly has its advantages.

But in this case, there’s no signup necessary. Nor is there a fee or an exclusive club to which you must belong.

The only qualification is living in Aurora, North Aurora, Montgomery or Sugar Grove, which makes you a resident of the Fox Valley Park District.

If you meet that standard, you’re in, for free, when Blackberry Farm hosts its third annual Family Fun Day from 4-7 p.m. next Wednesday, April 27. Think of it as a resident appreciation day; a way of saying “thanks” to all those who’ve helped make Blackberry Farm one of the region’s top five attractions in terms of annual attendance.

In fact, Blackberry Farm doesn’t even officially open until May 1, so this is truly a special sneak-peek.

“We just want to do a little something to celebrate with our residents,” said facility supervisor Sandy Smith. “Providing free admission is a nice way to bring everybody together to enjoy all the activities at Blackberry Farm.”

It’s an inviting experience—particularly for families—that combines history, education and good ol’ fashioned fun. All the amenities will be available, including unlimited rides on the steam-engine replica train, hay wagon, carousel and pedal tractor course.

This year marks Blackberry Farm’s 42nd birthday. Opened to the public in 1969, the living history museum has endured these last four decades quite well, but she is showing her age.

So as part of a mid-life makeover, Blackberry will receive a series of improvements in the coming years, with phase one beginning later this spring.

“We’ll be updating and upgrading,” said Jeff Palmquist, the Park District’s director of planning, development and grants. “As Blackberry continues to evolve over the years, improvements are necessary to ensure its long-term viability.”

They won’t be wholesale changes, but modifications that will take what’s good and make it better.

Highlights of the phase one plans include an adventure play area, a boat dock for pedal and fishing boats, new restrooms, concession renovations, an events plaza and expanded group picnic shelters.

Plans also are in place to create more interactive play areas near the current concession area that will appeal to a wider cross section of children from infants to young teens. Play structures would include slides, ropes, a climbing wall and self-powered train cars.

Increasing opportunities and access on Lake Gregory figures prominently in the plans as well, including pedal boat rentals, rope-guided rafts and fishing.

The south end of Lake Gregory and the adjacent land areas bordering Blackberry Creek would feature picnic areas and agricultural displays exhibiting early-day farm practices.

Drawings and renderings of these exciting plans will be shared with all on Family Fun Day next Wednesday. It’s an opportunity to envision the future while reveling in joys of the past. Enjoying good times never gets old.

Jeff Long is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District. Contact him at jlong@fvpd.net

Fox Valley Park District
Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 27: Family Fun Day at Blackberry Farm (free admission for residents), 4-7 p.m.
Sunday, May 1: Blackberry Farm opens for season, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 8: Mother’s Day at Blackberry Farm with live music, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, May 13-14: Community-wide Garage Sale, Prisco Community Center, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 14: Sheep to Shawl at Blackberry Farm, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.