50th Anniversary Events


WCPARC 50 Year Logo FULL COLOR CMYK

web page 50th


Our Parks are celebrating 50 years!  Join us throughout 2023 at various locations. For more information regarding any of these events, contact the park directly.

Rolling Hills County Park

The first 50 paid admissions to the Rolling Hills Water Park on May 27 will be entered into a raffle for 50th Anniversary prizes.  The Water Park opens at noon.

Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center

Join the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center Fitness Challenge!  Members can sign up for the Fitness Challenge at the Recreation Center with the challenge running from June – August, 2023.  Prizes will be awarded in several categories based on completion of various challenges.

Independence Lake County Park

Every Friday, starting June 2 and running through September 1, the 50th car at the admission gate will receive a free admission that day!  

Blue Heron Bay Splash Park

Every Friday, starting June 2 and running through September 1, the 50th person buying tickets at Blue Heron Bay Splash Park will receive free admission that day!  

Independence Lake County Park

Join us on Friday, June 9, from 6pm – 8pm at the ribbon cutting for the new Disc Golf Pavilion. Refreshments and 50th Anniversary giveaways will be available.

Independence Lake County Park

Visit Independence Lake County Park on August 1, 2023, and enjoy .50 hot dogs and .50 frozen yogurt all day at the Indy Lake Beach Center and at Blue Heron Bay concessions.

Pierce Lake Golf Course

Pierce Lake Golf Course will hold a special golf day on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, to coincide with the founding date of the Parks Commission (1973).

Highlights for August 1 include:

  • $19.73 for 18 holes with cart (all day)
  • $0.50 Hotdogs
  • $0.50 of selected alcoholic beverages
  • Raffles for prizes that day

Birding at WCPARC Parks and Preserves

We’re turning 50! Celebrate with us by doing one of our favorite recreation activities – birding. Below we created a list of 50 birds you can find around the county. Can you find them all?!

Not sure where to visit for good bird watching? Our favorite places are Leonard Preserve, Independence Lake County Park, Trinkle Marsh Preserve, Sharon Mills County Park, and West Lake Preserve. 

You can also check off birds on the list by joining Naturalist Kelsey Dehring on bird walks throughout the year. Check out our calendar of events to find when they are. Be on the lookout for other special 50th anniversary events and programs during 2023!

  1. Black-capped chickadee
  2. Cedar Waxwing
  3. Belted Kingfisher
  4. Tree Swallow
  5. Eastern Bluebird
  6. Northern Cardinal
  7. American Kestrel
  8. Trumpeter Swan
  9. Common Yellowthroat
  10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  11. Brown Trasher
  12. Chipping Sparrow
  13. Northern Flicker
  14. Sandhill Crane
  15. Pileated Woodpecker
  16. Pied-billed Grebe
  17. Killdeer
  18. Cooper’s Hawk
  19. Great Egret
  20. Baltimore Oriole
  21. Eastern Meadowlark
  22. Scarlet Tanager
  23. Common Merganser
  24. Indigo Bunting
  25. Red-tailed Hawk
  26. Barn Swallow
  27. Wild Turkey
  28. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  29. Great Blue Heron
  30. Blackburnian Warbler
  31. American Coot
  32. Golden Crowned Kinglet
  33. Great Horned Owl
  34. Tufted Titmouse
  35. Northern Mockingbird
  36. Downy Woodpecker
  37. Bufflehead
  38. Caroline Wren
  39. Osprey
  40. Bald Eagle
  41. Veery
  42. Common Grackle
  43. Eastern Towhee
  44. Grey Catbird
  45. Eastern Kingbird
  46. Blue Jay
  47. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
  48. Horned Lark
  49. Green-winged Teal
  50. American Robin