Independence Grove Forest Preserve

16400 Buckley Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048, USA

Address:	16400 Buckley Rd, Libertyville, IL 60048, USA
Phone:	+1 847-968-3499
Site:	lcfpd.org
Rating:	4.7

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 15

Michelle Greenwood

We rented a pedal pontoon boat and had a blast. We had 8 people in our group, three adults and 5 kids. Then we decided to rent 2 of the 4 person bikes and it was awful. We needed two and one had a broken brake line. We had to go to the other side of the park to pick up the second bike. Once we picked it up, the front wheels were wobbling on both sides, so we returned it and we were able to get another one that was just returned from another renter. Unfortunately, that one was broken as well with only one set of pedals working. Since we had so many in our group, not being about to use two bikes to hold everyone, rental was pointless. When I approached the manager after the whole frustrating ordeal, he was very arrogant and refused to give me a refund, only a credit. A few workers were stating how the bikes were crappy and always breaking down, which is funny because the manager stated they inspected them after every ride, which is obviously not true or we would have had the option to actually rent and use them. He offered to fix one of them, however, by the time we had to return them over and over it was already 5 PM and the repair would have taken longer pushing us to almost 6:30 since we didnt get to actually "ride" them without all the operational issues. Very frustrating. Because of this, my perception of independence grove has changed. I attempted to call the park without receiving a return phone call. Bad customer service but beautiful park.

Melissa W

I was here for a wedding and it was gorgeous. Tons of space to spread out for dancing and dining. The food was spot on and service was excellent. The party started off in the front atrium with small hors deuvres and cocktails for meet and greet. We were able to roam outside freely, take pics and mingle. We then moved to the dining room which had the dance floor in the middle and dozens of round tables on either side. The head table was in the middle at the foot of the dance floor. The space has huge picture windows and was beautiful. Dinner and drinks were delicious; I had a great vegetarian dish with veggies and puff pastry. There was another bar towards the back which let to a back outdoor terrace with twinkle lights all over and a fire going which was perfect for a cool night. All in all, a stellar location that I would highly recommend.

dennis daniels

Beautifully manicured landscaping, and lots of trails. I rented a kayak and was told I had to wear a life vest. Me being a strong swimmer, and an adult that can make my own decisions, I decided once I got further out to take my vest off. I had some guy come by and remind me I needed to keep my vest on but dont even need to fasten it. For one, most of the water is shallow enough I can touch and see the bottom. Secondly, if I dont have to fasten it, and I did dump my kayak, its going to come right off anyways, so whats the point?

Marilyn Vancrey

Its a great place to gather with family and friends. Miles of paths for walking, running, biking that connect with the Des Plaines River trail. Lake County residents can drive in and park for free. In the summer there are plenty of fun activities like music, swimming, and boating more. The shelter accommodates large parties. The conference hall is beautiful for special functions. In the evenings, the sunsets can be quite spectacular.

Amanda Cee

Beautiful venue both inside and outside for a wedding and reception. Gorgeous gardens, intimate and photogenic. The customer service from security to waitstaff was stellar. I cant say enough about how nice the waitstaff Was that I encountered. The whole event ran smoothly and it flowed easily for all guests from one moment to the next. This is a venue worth checking out for anyone looking for a wedding spot!

Binyamin Pinkus

Beautiful place, beautiful water, boating and trails around it. Great options for activities, boat rental, bike rental, fishing, swimming beach etc. I wasnt happy that it costs $10 per car if you arent a Lake County resident. Only $5 on weekdays but I probably wont get there other than a Sunday. Also we really went to fish and they require you to throw everything back which was a disappointment as well.

Ashley Kunecke

I have worked meetings and events here before, plus my fiance and I were looking in to have our wedding here. It is a beautiful place, with lovely outdoor space. However, if the weather is bad, the venue itself is only average. The main room is a little awkward, and catering is only okay. It isnt really worth the price if you cannot guarantee cooperative weather.

Shweta Raina

Serene, peaceful and beautiful year round. They have some summer activities such as biking, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle as well as fishing. Rentals are very affordably priced. Great for a short/ weekend family outing. Plenty of space to picnic, walk or play volleyball. Park is connected to the Des Plaines river trail. Dogs and horses are not allowed.

David Zamudio

Great place to go over in the Summer. You can walk around the trail, ride a bycicle, a pedal boat, or enjoy the mini beach they have. They also have a kids playground. Definitely a nice place is you want to enjoy nature. It is free for IL residents, just present your Drivers License and/or State ID at the entrance. Otherwise I believe there is a fee per car

Theresa

Great place to take your dog and walk around. There are spots for fishing, catch and release only. Lots of wildlife, I may have even seen an otter. Seems like there are a lot of things you could do in the park, but I went over 30 minutes to closing time. So I was not able to see everything. It is very peaceful, I almost forgot I was still in Libertyville.

Walker Lawrence

This is a really great destination to meet friends for a BBQ and to let the kiddos run around outside. The playground here is fun and as lots to offer for all ages. It is "gated" so it is pretty safe for keeping an eye on the kids. The ground is recycled tires (Which feels a bit odd), there is a cool climbing structure, and a great long slide.

A Private User

Independence Grove is a great place to spend the day outdoors. You can rent paddle boats, play beach volleyball, run/bike/skate on the miles of paths that circle the large lake. There is plenty of space for throwing a frisbee or a football, but not really enough flat space to play a game. You can rent the shelters for larger events as well.

Alec Fernandez

Its an excellent place to bring your family if youre looking for a cookout. They have tons of activities that you can partake such as renting boats, swimming, fishing, parks for children, nature walks! The list goes on! The park itself is very well maintained just make sure you bring some bug spray, you can think mother nature for that

Senthil Kumar Selvaraj

If you live in Lake County - IL, dont miss this place. It is free for Lake County residents and $5 for others. There is a beach (in summer), boating activities, 2 cycle/walking trails around the lake, picnic table, kids playground, cafeteria (limited hours). The trail around the lake also connects to the Des Plaines river trail.

Paul Dworianyn

My wife and I love coming here. There are a few yoga classes we do through meet up as well as formal concerts to attend. I priced out a wedding here and was taken back the pricing and necessity of using g certain vendors. However, the property is very nice and the publicly accessible property is beautiful.