Woodstock’s plan for an inclusive playground with an intergenerational focus received a boost last week with a $600,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “This is huge,” said Terry Willcockson, the city’s grants manager. The grant is part of $60 million in state funding to help local governments develop public parks and open […]
By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Woodstock will get a maximum $600,000 grant as part of $60 million in state funding announced Wednesday to help local governments develop public parks and open spaces. That is one of five grants to government units in McHenry County announced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Although the purpose of the […]
Given the chance to make it easier to put a cannabis dispensary in Woodstock, the City Council decided not to do it. Despite a unanimous vote earlier of the Plan Commission to allow a dispensary to open with a city permit rather than a special use exception to the zoning ordinance – which requires the […]
Woodstock, Woodstock North, and Marian Central Catholic high schools entered runners in the annual McHenry County Cross-Country Meet Aug. 27 at Emricson Park. The meet, hosted by WHS, showcases runners from McHenry County schools, regardless of the conference they compete in or the size of the school, 1A, 2A, or 3A. The 3-mile race includes […]
Despite some early morning storms resulting in extremely high humidity, more than 60 athletes, age 7 through adults, tested their swimming, biking, and running skills against the clock in the Woodstock Recreation Department’s we.CAN.tri triathlon at Emricson Park on Sunday. “We’re extremely happy we got it in,” said Dave Zinnen, director of the Woodstock Recreation […]
Looking for a purpose behind your walk in the park? Woodstock residents now have a new recreational outlet available to them. A nine-hole disc golf course spouted up this spring in the rolling terrain of Emricson Park, offering challenging, picturesque play as well as an invitation to get off the beaten path. Disc golf, referred […]
Not everyone agreed with the decision by the city of Woodstock to continue its July 4 fireworks display on schedule just hours after a mass shooting at an Independence Day parade only 40 miles away. And not every community chose to delay the holiday festivities after the awful events in Highland Park that left seven […]
The big tent and the live auction will be back this coming weekend as Gavers Community Cancer Foundation has its 22nd annual Barndance at Emricson Park “The best seven hours of summer” will get started at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Partygoers just need a ticket and be 21 or older. Barndance will be held […]
Woodstock’s commitment to youth and baseball rebuilt the baseball diamond at Emricson Park back in 1991. It’s a heartwarming true story, and I’m going to retell it this week because the Dream Field was dedicated 30 years ago – July 19, 1992, to be exact. Rebuilding the much-used field was the dream of the Woodstock […]
Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com The city of Woodstock has won a $22,950 grant to create an intergenerational environmental education nature trail in Emricson Park in partnership with The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. According to a news release, Woodstock is among 260 recipients nationwide from among 3,200 applications for a 2022 AARP Challenge Grant designed to […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
