December 18, 2025
When most people think of the Parks Department, they picture sunny days filled with mowed fields, blooming flowers, and busy playgrounds. But when temperatures drop and winter settles in, the work doesn’t slow down—it simply changes.
According to Amy Vito, Superintendent of Parks, the Palatine Park District’s Parks and Planning Department remains active year-round. “During the winter months, our activities shift as athletic programs and landscaping services conclude for the season,” Vito said. “The Parks Crew continues to inspect playgrounds and maintain park cleanliness by collecting litter and removing graffiti. Additionally, they repair and repaint numerous park signs, as well as refurbish garbage cans and picnic tables.”
This winter, crews will also take on several light construction projects, including building new temporary pitching mounds for multiple fields at Hamilton. These projects play an important role in preparing the parks for spring and summer use.
The Horticulture Crew focuses much of its winter work on trees. Colder weather allows crews to safely remove trees that were not considered dangerous during the active season and to prune species such as oak trees, which benefit from winter trimming. In addition to tree work, the Horticulture Crew is responsible for maintaining the ice rink and sled hills throughout the winter months. When temperatures drop below freezing, staff arrive early in the morning to add fresh layers of water to the rink, ensuring a smooth and safe skating surface later in the day.
The Community Park ice rink, located on the basketball court near the amphitheater, is a popular winter attraction. The setup process begins with installing side boards that secure the rink for the entire season. A liner is then laid down and clipped to the boards to keep it taut, followed by pouring at least three inches of water to create a solid base layer. Once frozen, safety foam is added to the tops of the boards, ramps and benches are installed, and the gates are opened to welcome skaters. Each morning, as long as temperatures remain below freezing, staff inspect the rink, brush off ice buildup, and add fresh water as needed. Visitors are reminded to only use the rink when the gates are open, as closed gates signal unsafe ice conditions. Damaging the ice can puncture the liner and may cause the skating season to end earlier than expected. To check if the ice is open visit: https://palparks.org/ice-rink
Winter also brings snow removal responsibilities for both the Parks Crew and the Horticulture Crew. “The town is divided at Wood Street, with crews prioritizing key locations during active snowfall,” Vito said. “Primary sites include Birchwood, Falcon, the Community Center, and the Senior Center. When preschools are in session, Maple, Eagle, and Parkside are also treated as priorities.” Crews focus on clearing parking lots and sidewalks leading to buildings first. Once the snow has stopped, they move on to secondary sidewalks and additional locations such as the Golf Course, Juniper, Hummingbird, and Cardinal parks.
In addition, crews clear several popular paths and trails, including the track at Ost, the path around Falcon, the track at Hamilton, and sections of the Palatine Trail from Maple to Hicks and along Illinois Avenue.
While winter may change how the parks are used, it doesn’t change the dedication behind maintaining them. Thanks to the continued efforts of the Parks and Planning Department crews, Palatine’s parks remain safe, accessible, and ready for the seasons ahead.
