Escape City Life And Enjoy Nature At Peck Farm Park In Illinois
By Melissa Mahoney|Published May 05, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Tucked away in the southwest corner of the city of Geneva is an urban park that offers an escape from city life and the opportunity to enjoy nature. Peck Farm Park is a 385-acre oasis that features hiking trails, an educational playground, a butterfly house, wetlands, and sensory gardens.
The Peck family built their farmhouse in Geneva around 1859. Both the house and surrounding property were later acquired by the Geneva Park District which turned it into an interactive park for visitors to enjoy.
Within the Peck House, visitors can explore the history gallery as well as an exploration room and a gift shop. There is also a 10-minute-long movie, interactive exhibits, live animals, books, and more.
It's well worth spending some time inside to learn about how the park came to be.
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A huge draw to this park is the Butterfly House where you can marvel at the beautiful winged creatures fluttering all around you once you walk through its doors. There are hundreds of non-native butterflies and admission to see them is free!
Also on the park's property is an observation silo where you can climb a set of winding stairs. At the top, you'll be treated to lovely panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
With 385 acres, hiking and biking trails, and 19 acres of wetlands, this park is an oasis in an urban setting. There is so much to explore at this interactive park, making it the perfect place for children.
A fun attraction for the kids is Hawks Hollow Nature Playground which was built to inspire imagination via eight interactive learning stations. Children can learn about plant and animal species by using their senses and creating connections to our natural world.
Among other incredible attractions at Peck Farm Park are the sensory gardens, a picnic area, baseball diamonds and soccer fields, and an ADA outdoor amphitheater. This park has numerous attributes for all to enjoy.