Mar-Duke Farm Park, Downers Grove, IL

Mar-Duke Farm Park covers 27 acres of former farmland in Downers Grove, with more than a mile of paved and natural-surface trails that connect to the 20-mile DuPage River Trail. The park includes three fishing ponds stocked by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a 9-hole disc-golf course, two playgrounds with rubberized surfacing, and a fenced dog park with separate zones for large and small dogs. An open-air shelter equipped with picnic tables and grills is available for reservations through the Downers Grove Park District. The site’s restored prairie and wetland areas attract migratory birds and support native plant species maintained by district staff. The park sits 1.2 miles from the Downers Grove Main Street Metra station and within a half-mile of two grocery stores and the Downers Grove Public Library, placing residents within short walking or biking distance of daily errands and commuter rail service.

Playground