City of Galesburg Aquatic Facilities Now Open

By - Cathy St. George, Assistant City Manager, Director of Community Engagement, and Public Information Officer

The City of Galesburg was thrilled to announce the official opening of its outdoor aquatic facilities for the summer season. Beginning Saturday, May 23, 2026, residents and visitors can enjoy a wide variety of summer amenities, including free splashpads and wading pools, as well as Lakeside Waterpark. Seasonal aquatic amenities will remain open for the summer season through Labor Day, concluding the season on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Lakeside Water Park, located at 1033 South Lake Storey Road, features an array of attractions for all ages, including two pools, a 122 ft. body flume slide, a 30 ft. tube slide, an 8 ft. kiddie slide, and various interactive water play features. Daily entry is $8, with convenient multi-pass punch cards and full season memberships available for purchase. Detailed information regarding hours, rates, and special programs can be found on the city’s website.

Exciting progress is also underway at Lake Storey Park (1572 Machen Drive) as the city moves forward with construction of the multi-use walking trail to complete a full loop around the lake. As previously announced and anticipated, to accommodate construction of this major park infrastructure upgrade, lake levels were required to remain lowered during the initial project phase to allow for the earth embankments and extension of the culverts. That work was completed ahead of the anticipated June 1st deadline, and now the lake will begin to naturally return to required levels for full aquatic usage. Once required lake levels are achieved, Lake Storey Beach will open for swimming and boat rentals. The exact timing will depend on rainfall received, and additional information will be shared when those facilities are fully open for the summer season.

“We are thrilled with the progress of the Lake Storey walking trail expansion,” said Don Miles, Director of Parks and Recreation. “Once fully completed, it will offer a seamless, paved loop around the entire lake for outdoor recreation. Because the earth embankment work was finished ahead of schedule, we can now allow water levels to rise naturally for the summer season. We sincerely appreciate the community’s patience during this brief disruption as we construct this long-term investment in our park’s infrastructure.”

While lake levels are rising, the beach area will open for the season beginning this weekend for sunbathing, volleyball, and outdoor recreation. Personal canoes, kayaks, jon boats, and small sailboats may continue to be utilized on the lake for free. Once water levels allow for launching from the beach area, kayak launches will be added, and swimming and boat rentals will open for the season.

Families looking for neighborhood fun can also utilize the city’s free wading pools and splash pads starting Memorial Day weekend. Wading pools are located at Lincoln Park, O.N. Custer Park, and H.T. Custer Park, while active splash pads are ready for use at Rotary Park and Kiwanis Park. Additionally, the city is excited to announce that the brand-new splash pad at Cooke Park, located at 652 W. 2nd Street, is scheduled for its grand opening this June.

Bunker Links Golf Course, located at 3535 Lincoln Park Drive, is also open for the season. Bunker Links is an 18 Hole (Par 71) regulation golf course located in Lincoln Park. Owned and operated by the City of Galesburg, it offers a wonderful, affordable and accessible recreation option for Galesburg residents and guests. The course spans just over 6,100 yards of rolling terrain, featuring water hazards on six holes, a driving range, and large putting green. Detailed information is available on the city’s website or by calling 309-344-1818.

Finally, for those looking to extend their outdoor stay, Allison Campground (1351 S. Lake Storey Road) is officially open for the season through mid-October. The campground features 142 total sites, including 21 full hook-up sites and 101 sites equipped with electricity. Reservations and site inquiries can be made by contacting campground staff at 309-344-1534.

In addition to the outdoor aquatic facilities, Hawthorne Pool in Galesburg offers a year-round, indoor swimming option.

More details on the summer aquatics facilities and recreational opportunities offered by the City of Galesburg Parks and Recreation Department can be found on the City’s website.