Cole Memorial Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Cole Memorial Park is a beautiful outdoor space located in Oakland, Illinois, that offers a variety of activities for visitors.
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Summary
Some good reasons to visit the park include hiking, fishing, and picnicking. The park is home to several points of interest, including a large pond stocked with catfish, bass, and bluegill for fishing, a playground for kids, and a pavilion for gatherings. Visitors can also stroll through the park's many nature trails, observing the diverse plant and animal life.
One interesting fact about Cole Memorial Park is that it was named after a local World War II veteran, William Cole, who donated the land to the village of Oakland. Another fun fact is that the park used to be a quarry, providing stone for a nearby train station and other buildings.
The best time to visit the park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and sunny. However, the fall is also a great time to visit as the trees in the park turn colorful and provide a stunning backdrop for a leisurely walk or picnic.
Overall, Cole Memorial Park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking to enjoy a peaceful day in nature.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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