Parks
Arthur
has a wonderful park system that adds a lot to the spirit of the community.
Originating with generous donations from the Eberhardt and Jurgens families,
the Arthur park district provides acres of recreational facilities across Arthur.
Picnic pavilions, 3 baseball diamonds for every type of ball, tennis
courts, and a community swimming pool, all lighted for night use, are
maintained by the park district. Pavilions may be
reserved for group gatherings. Add in the grass, flowers and trees, new
playground equipment along with the open space
and sports fields provided by the school district and you have many, many
recreational opportunities in Arthur for all ages.
The Park district also hosts the facilities for the Moultrie-Douglas Bi-County Fair along with other horse shows and tractor pulls throughout the year.
Each year the Arthur Rotary Club, with the support of the Village and local businesses put on a spectacular fireworks display in Jurgens Park. This event has attracted in excess of 40,000 people each year and has become one of the largest displays in central Illinois.
The park district is currently investigating replacement locations for the community pool. This well used facility will be replaced and a number of the proposed locations being investigated include additional recreation facilities along with the new pool. While the current pool is in no immediate danger, this park project is expected to be undertaken in 2008.
The Arthur Park District also operates Brad-O-Clen, a wooded site about 3 miles north of Arthur along the Kaskaskia River. This approximately 10 acre location includes, woods, trails, primitive camp sites and a small cabin, all frequently used by scouting groups visiting the area. The facilities are available for group reservation.