click to enlarge Unplug Illinois Day
photo by terry farmer
Unplugged children enjoy the splashpad at Southwind Park.
Unplug your electronic devices and plug in to play and adventure. Saturday, July 9, is Unplug Illinois Day, a campaign of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. The Springfield Park District invites you to take advantage of our parks, golf courses, nature trails, bike trails, nature preserve, skate parks, tennis and pickleball courts, disc golf, gardens and other resources. The Unplug Illinois website has activity guides with creative ways to participate www.unplugillinois.org/.

Here are some suggestions. Visit the Washington Park Botanical Garden and stroll through the gardens. Pack a picnic lunch and listen to Carlo Van Ulft play the carillon bells at 2 p.m. If it's a hot summer day, cool off at the Nelson Center Pool with its twisted flume slide and separate wading pool (10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.). Or play in the free splashpad at Comer Cox Park. Explore Henson Robinson Zoo with more than 80 animal species.

Southwind Park is completely accessible for all ages and abilities. Go fishing, play on the playgrounds, fly a kite or play frisbee on the great lawn, create a melody at the Children's Musical Garden, dance to the music at the arches or play in the splashpad.

Join the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes at Robin Roberts Stadium at 6:30 p.m. for brews and baseball night, with special guest Dwier Brown, who starred in the Field of Dreams movie.

Play golf, take a bike ride or simply walk in one of our many public parks. Find your park and what's happening at www.springfieldparks.org/. Lincoln Memorial Garden and Adams Wildlife Sanctuary are other delightful places to get outside and enjoy nature. Unplug, unwind and explore.  

Karen Ackerman Witter

Karen Ackerman Witter started freelance writing after a 35-year career in state government holding various senior leadership positions. Prior to retiring she was associate director of the Illinois State Museum for 14 years. She is the past president of the Kidzeum Board of Directors and is an active volunteer...

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