Nowell Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Nowell Park is a popular park located in the city of Joliet, Illinois.


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Summary

It offers a variety of amenities and attractions that make it a great destination for visitors of all ages. Some good reasons to visit Nowell Park include its large playground area, basketball and tennis courts, baseball fields, and picnic areas.

One of the main points of interest in Nowell Park is its outdoor water park, which features several water slides, a lazy river, and a large pool. The park also offers a walking trail that runs around the perimeter of the park and provides scenic views of the surrounding area.

Interesting facts about Nowell Park include that it is named after the former mayor of Joliet, Henry G. Nowell, and that it is home to the Joliet Park District administrative offices. The park is also adjacent to the Joliet Stadium, where the Joliet Slammers minor league baseball team plays.

The best time of year to visit Nowell Park is during the summer months when the water park is open and the weather is warm. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors in all seasons, including ice skating in the winter.

Overall, Nowell Park is a great destination for families and individuals looking to enjoy outdoor activities and attractions in the state of Illinois.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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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