The Wheeling Park District, incorporated in 1961, is located in northern Cook and southern Lake Counties, and is 27 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The Park District is an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency and serves a population of approximately 38,000 residents living within the Village of Wheeling and small portions of Prospect Heights, Buffalo Grove, and Arlington Heights. It encompasses an area just over 8.5 square miles. The Park District is considered to be a primary government – providing a full range of recreation activities, public open space, recreational facilities, a full-service country club, and district-wide events for its communities.

The Park District is governed by an elected, seven-member board, and operates under a Board-Manager form of government, with its primary purpose being to provide parks and recreational opportunities to its residents. Services provided include recreation programs, park management, capital development, and general administration. The Park District manages 19 sites on 329 acres. Recreational facilities operated by the Park District include one undeveloped natural area with a 13 acre lake, nine neighborhood parks, one community/regional park, sports complex with four artificial turf fields, one outdoor aquatic center, one community recreation center, one indoor aquatic center, a fitness center, historical museum, two community gymnasiums (shared with Community Consolidated School District 21), one artificial turf football field (shared with Wheeling High School and co-owned with School District 214)and a championship-quality golf course and banquet facility, as well as a number of softball/baseball diamonds, football and soccer fields, playgrounds, and picnic shelters.