New Lenox Park District Reports Nearly 30% Surge in Summer Program Registrations

New Lenox Community Park District Meeting | July 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox Community Park District experienced a significant increase in summer program participation, with registration numbers for June jumping by nearly 30% compared to the previous year. The growth was largely driven by the popularity of Camp Wewannago, which enrolled almost 500 children, and successful athletic leagues.

Park District Program Growth Key Points:

• Program registrations in June 2025 saw a year-over-year increase of nearly 30%.

• The Camp Wewannago summer camp was a major driver, with almost 500 participants signing up.

• Summer athletic leagues, including T-ball and soccer, also saw strong enrollment.

• The district implemented modest fee increases this year to help cover the rising cost of materials.

The New Lenox Community Park District is experiencing a booming summer season, with officials reporting on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, that program registrations for June surged by nearly 30% over the same period last year.

During the Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Ott highlighted the “huge increase” in participation across the district’s offerings. Associate Executive Director Lea Pipiras confirmed the growth was widespread, with a notable rise in enrollment in nearly all programs, particularly the popular Camp Wewannago.

“Our Camp Wewannago Summer camp was one of our biggest summer camps thus far,” Commissioner Fischer reported. “We had almost 500 participants signed up for the program.”

Pipiras noted that the increase was also due to an overall rise in numbers across the board. To offset the rising costs of supplies, she added that the district had raised some fees for the current year.

Summer athletic programs also saw robust numbers. The T-ball league drew 193 participants for its Thursday sessions and 109 for Saturdays, while the Summer Kick Start soccer league had 130 children participating.

The successful season was also marked by the grand opening of the Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex and Water Chase Park, which officials said have been very well-received by residents. President Schulz thanked the staff for their “tremendous amount of time getting everything up and running” for the new facilities.

In addition to program growth, the board introduced two new full-time staff members. Cody Madigan has been hired as the Food and Beverage Supervisor for the Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex, and Zach Webber joins as a Maintenance Laborer for the Parks and Grounds Department.