Bourbonnais Township Park District: Parks and Recreation

Click here to view the list of Community Parks within Bourbonnais Township

The Park District maintains the Perry Farm Park, a dynamic 170 acre recreation area carefully carved in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the state.

Enthusiasts of all kinds find enjoyment in the wide array of activities the park offers including 4-miles of fully accessible paved paths that wind through natural prairie, woods and riverfront of the Perry Farm site. To preserve its natural setting, no motorized vehicles other than Park District maintenance equipment are allowed on the trails.

Oak meadows, a fruit tree orchard, picnic areas, memorial rose gardens and flower gardens and gazebos as well as an Illinois Nature preserve area highlighting Indian Caves along the Bourbonnais Creek and ravine make this stretch of the Kankakee River and its shores as beautiful as any in the state.

170+ Acres of Natural Prairie, Woods and Canyons
Oak Meadows, Indian Caves, and Fruit Tree Orchard
Picnic Areas/Gazebos
Dedicated Nature Preserve

4 Miles of Walking Trails

The Perry Farm Park and Trail are open from sunrise to sunset 365 days of the year. Wheel, roll, ride, walk, or stroll the trail. It is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors and visit with friends. Please remember to be courteous to others enjoying the park trail. Pets are welcome, but remember to keep them leashed while in the park near others and dispose of waste properly.

Perry Farm House

Learn about the history of the Perry Farm and how the Bourbonnais Township Park District came to be.

On September 16, 1996, Governor Jim Edgar authorized the dedication of the Bourbonnais Geologic Area as an Illinois Nature Preserve. The dedicated area, located within the Perry Farm Park, covers approximately 30 acres of land.

Perry Farm offers many fun activities for all ages. Whether you're planning a family picnic or a large group outing, the Park District offers room rentals, hay rides, tents, picnic kits, ski rentals, nature walks, and Gazebo reservations at reasonable fees. Activity applications are available at the BTPD office in the Perry Farm House and the Exploration Station®. Reservations are made on a first come, first pay basis. Some activities are seasonal and not available all year.

Living Memorial Program

The Living Memorial Program gives you the opportunity to plant a tree at the Perry Farm Park in memory of a loved one, to commemorate an important individual, anniversaries, organization or even a special event.

Read about the land acquired by the Bourbonnais Township Park District for recreation and nature lovers..

Perry Farm House
The Perry Farm House, circa 1866, serves as a Visitor’s Center and provides classroom and office space for the Park District. Information is available in the farm house on Park District programs and special events as well as other recreational
opportunities and community events. Registrations for Park District classes and recreation programs are accepted during office hours and at the Exploration Station®. A drop off box is also
located on the west porch, near the parking lot, for after hours program registration convenience.

Thomas Durham Memorial
A memorial marking the gravesite of Thomas Durham was dedicated in May 2000. Durham is remembered by historians as the first “American-born” settler in the Bourbonnais Grove. Durham lived on the farm for 19 years. Durham died on March 13, 1854, and was buried just west of the farm house where a tree orchard once stood. Durham and his wife, Margaret, had 12 children. The memorial site features a bricked area decorated with urns, two benches and a stone
marker. A millennium garden compliments the memorial.

Burkhalter Memorial Rose Garden
The Burkhalter Memorial Rose Garden is located at the flagpole just south of the Perry Farm House. The garden was dedicated on July 10, 1999, in honor of the first BTPD Board President, Harry D. Burkhalter. The garden contains hybrid tea roses, a variety of shrub roses and a meditation bench. Peach roses were a favorite of Burkhalter’s and are in abundance in the garden. The rose garden is a tribute to Burkhalter’s undying dedication to the community and his eleven years of service on
the Park District Board of Commissioners. He retired from the Park Board in June 1998.

St. Mary’s Hospital Centennial
Fruit Tree Orchard
The Centennial Fruit Tree Orchard serves as a permanent memorial to St. Mary’s Hospital’s one hundred year anniversary of their commitment to serving every member of the community. The orchard was donated to the community by the
hospital’s medical staff, the Kankakee County Medical Society and the Kankakee County Medical Society Alliance. It was dedicated by Sister Marie Mason in 1997. The orchard contains
several kinds of fruit and nut trees as well as grapevines.

Perry Farm Park Living History Area
The Perry Farm Living History Area is part of the ongoing preservation of the Perry Farm property by the Park District. The Living History Area is located in the front of the park and consists of the Perry Farm House, a 25-foot by 35-foot horse barn, an English barn and farm animals.

The Perry Farm House was built in the 1830s by Thomas Durham, the first American settler of the property. Durham’s daughter and her husband, David Perry, remodeled the house in 1855. The upstairs of the farm house contains much of the original circa 1840 woodwork, architectural hardware and original Norfolk door latches.

The downstairs retains circa 1855-70 integrity associated with the remodeling. The structure of the farm house is much like other houses of its day with a stone fireplace, spacious living area, small kitchen and second story. Several artifacts
from the late 1800s and early 1900s are on display in the house.

The Three Bay English Barn dates back to the late 1830s or early 1840s and is believed to have been built by Durham before the farm house. The barn is currently undergoing restoration under the supervision of the Perry Farm Living History Advisory Committee. The committee is made up of
local residents dedicated to preserving the history of the Perry Farm.

The horse barn has its entrance in the gable end walls which face the house and yard. It was constructed shortly after the Three Bay English Barn during the early to late 1840s and was constructed with the same traditional heavy timber
construction techniques as the English Barn.

A variety of farm animals on the Perry Farm are a popular attraction at the park. Most animals are on site all year. Although the animals will eat most anything, visitors wishing to feed the animals are asked to utilize the feed machines that are placed in various locations around the animal corrals. The feed in the machines contain nutrients that are
part of a well balanced diet for the animals. Fresh vegetables are also recommended.

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