Jacobson Park, 29 acres

This 29 acre park was donated to the Village of Wonder Lake in the 1970's by a developer. Five acres have been developed for softball, soccer, tennis, basketball and in-line hockey.

Development and maintenance costs come from tax dollars, state grants, developer donations and most importantly, through volunteer efforts. In 1978, a group of parent volunteers cleared the 5 acres where the ball fields and soccer fields are located. In 1979 D and D Septic, Greenwood Township, Sullivan True Value hardware, Ed's Rental and farmer Dean Schrock provided donations and service in the finished grade of the park. Parent volunteers raked and seeded the area and erected a used backstop. Special thanks to Larry Reinhard and the late Bob Freund for directing this effort. 

Recreational T-ball, softball and soccer programs brought heavy use to the park.

Just North of the bridge are the ruins of the Adams Dam. This was a hobby dam complete with a water wheel that powered an on-site machine shop. The dam was completed in 1935 and washed out in a flood in 1936. Like earlier dams at this site, the Nippersink current was too great to control. Visit the "Harnessing the Power of the Nippersink" signage at Jacobsen Park for a historical review of the area.

The remaining 24 acres of the park is a wetland and is a protected area as part of the Illinois "Acres for Wildlife" program. All water frontages are private with ownership belonging to either Sunrise Ridge Estates or the Master Property Owners Association. Access to these areas is reserved for Wonder Lake property owners with patrol by the village police and the MPOA's Marine Police Patrol.

Location: 4200 Thompson Road