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50th Anniversary Events
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!
- Black-capped chickadee
- Cedar Waxwing
- Belted Kingfisher
- Tree Swallow
- Eastern Bluebird
- Northern Cardinal
- American Kestrel
- Trumpeter Swan
- Common Yellowthroat
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Brown Trasher
- Chipping Sparrow
- Northern Flicker
- Sandhill Crane
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Killdeer
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Great Egret
- Baltimore Oriole
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Scarlet Tanager
- Common Merganser
- Indigo Bunting
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Barn Swallow
- Wild Turkey
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Great Blue Heron
- Blackburnian Warbler
- American Coot
- Golden Crowned Kinglet
- Great Horned Owl
- Tufted Titmouse
- Northern Mockingbird
- Downy Woodpecker
- Bufflehead
- Caroline Wren
- Osprey
- Bald Eagle
- Veery
- Common Grackle
- Eastern Towhee
- Grey Catbird
- Eastern Kingbird
- Blue Jay
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Horned Lark
- Green-winged Teal
- American Robin