Gold Star Families Memorial & Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
The Gold Star Families Memorial & Park in the state of Illinois is a place to honor and pay tribute to the families who have lost loved ones while serving in the military.
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Summary
The park features a 12-foot-tall black granite monument with the words "Gold Star Families Memorial Monument" inscribed on it. There are also four granite panels that contain the names of Illinois service members who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Visitors can also see a Walk of Remembrance with bricks inscribed with the names of veterans, military personnel, and loved ones. Additionally, the park features a large pavilion with seating and a stage for events such as concerts and ceremonies. Throughout the park are benches, trees, and landscaping that provide a tranquil environment for reflection and remembrance.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the Gold Star Families Memorial & Park was built entirely by donations from local businesses and individuals. The monument itself was designed by an artist who also created the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The best time of year to visit the Gold Star Families Memorial & Park is during the warmer months when the park is in full bloom and events are held regularly. However, the park is open year-round and provides a peaceful and meaningful experience for visitors at any time of year.
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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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