Home › Illinois › Machesney Park › Schoonmaker Park
Schoonmaker Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 193 Google reviews · Running trail in Machesney Park, Illinois · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Schoonmaker Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Parks for both small & large dogs are available at this recreation spot with trails & a playground.
What runners say about Schoonmaker Park
“Everyone is super friendly and its always very calm and clean, it has a place to play baseball, tennis, basketball, a playground, dog park and a volleyball court”
The management needs to put up better signage for the idiots that let their dogs poop along the walk loop and not pick it up!!! I know people should just do it automatically, but I guess they can't! Start watching and hand out fines of some sort!! Otherwise excellent park!!
My family goes here all the time. It is a great place for me and my daughter too get in or running but still a lot of the boys to play at the playground while we run around. It is their favorite playground and there's often other kids there for them to play with. All around a fantastic Park.
Fun place to have picnics under pavilions, go for a walk around the track, fly a kite on a windy day, and have your kids play on the playground. A few tennis courts and ball fields for baseball, softball and kickball. Sand pit for volleyball. And of course access to a dog park for a fee.
We love taking our dogs to the dog park at schoonmaker. They also have a nice walking path, baseball diamond, picnic area, and playground. The park is always clean and well kept.
Trail conditions & character
“Everyone is super friendly and its always very calm and clean, it has a place to play baseball, tennis, basketball, a playground, dog park and a volleyball court”
“The bathrooms are porta pottys but tue overall park is very clean amd kept up.”
Plan your run at Schoonmaker Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteharlemtownshipwinnebago.com
- Phone+1 815-633-9382
Hours
| Monday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 5 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 5 am–10 pm |
Running trails near Machesney Park
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Dennis Johnson Memorial Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 39 reviews
Forest Preserves of Winnebago County
4.7 ★★★★★ 110 reviews
Natural preserve with paved trails for biking and walking plus benches and a pond.
Kieselburg Forest Preserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 147 reviews
Wooded preserve offering picnic areas, a soccer field, and trails for hiking and remote-controlled aircraft flying.
Riverside Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 110 reviews
Tranquil greenspace featuring the Rock River for fishing and boating.
Harlem Hills Nature Preserve
4.2 ★★★★☆ 14 reviews
Wantz Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 148 reviews
Casual, outdoor space, mostly unshaded, with swings, slides and a climbing structure.