Techny Prairie Park in Northbrook, Illinois, Is Educational & Fun! by Mike Prochaska

Techny Prairie Park is this amazing park next to a golf course. The amazing thing about this park is you don’t even know it’s there from the road because it's hidden by two baseball fields and soccer field. Not only is there a park here, there is a walking trail around the golf course next door that my kids love to explore. They love walking on the trail looking at the trees and looking for a golf balls in the tall grass. They call this “the golf ball park” because they always come home with treasures.

The trail is called the "Trail Through Time" and winds through a restored prairie and two wetlands that are home to mammals, birds and insects. Each spot has educational signs and suggested activities, in addition to providing space for spontaneous play. There are also these giant rocks that are made into structures. My kids love to play leap frog and jump from one rock to the next, going around and around the structures.

The park also has three fire pits that fill up with water when it rains. My kids love exploring them with sticks and splashing around the water to see if they can find tadpoles. There is also a bridge across the marsh area where we always hear thousands of frogs. We also see all kinds of great bugs and birds.

Dogs are allowed on the walking trail, too, as long as they are on leash. Parents, it’s good to know that there is a bathroom at the playground section of the park, but none on the trail.

Techny Prairie Park is located at 1700 Techny Road in Northbrook, Ill., 60062.