Peru offers several different ways to plan your day: Baker Lake Park combines outdoor activities with a paved walking trail; the baseball-themed Splash Pad adds a distinctive feature with its water jets. The Westclox Museum focuses on the history of the Western Clock Company, while Schweickert Arena combines ice skating and hockey with supporting facilities. Depending on your interests, you can choose between park activities, company history and ice sports.
Park Activities and Splash Pad
Baker Lake Park offers fishing, picnicking, a playground, shelters, restrooms, a disc golf course and a one-mile paved walking trail. There is more than one activity to choose from: you can consider the walking trail as a specific route on foot, or choose the park based on your interest in fishing, picnicking or disc golf. The playground, shelters and restrooms are also part of the facilities.
The baseball-themed Splash Pad covers approximately 12,000 square feet and features hundreds of water jets. It also includes features specially designed to be child-friendly for children with different disabilities. Compared with the paved walking trail, it stands out primarily for its water-based activity and its distinctive design.
Company History in Peru
The Westclox Museum presents the history of the Western Clock Company. The company was founded in Peru, Illinois, and operated there for almost a century. Its founding and nearly century-long operation give the company’s history a clear connection to the area. If you would like to include local history alongside recreational activities, the museum offers a different focus from park activities or ice sports.
Schweickert Arena and Seasonal Planning
Schweickert Arena includes a 2,600-square-foot building with restrooms, lockers, a concession area, a skate rental area and a warming fireplace. This building is next to the existing ice skating and hockey rink. These facilities complement the rink; however, seasonal operating details may change. If ice skating or hockey is important to your plans, check the latest operating information in advance.
Getting Here and the Regional Perspective
Illinois Valley Regional Airport is located in Peru. Charter flights can be arranged directly from there; these arrangements may change. If you are considering this option, check the specific arrangements before traveling.
Interpretive CanalTour signs are located along the I&M Canal State Trail from Rockdale to LaSalle/Peru. They provide a regional point of interest along this section of the trail and broaden the perspective beyond the individual attractions in Peru. If you would like to consider the wider travel-area context alongside local activities, this section of the trail offers a distinct theme.
Discover more destinations: Grand Ridge, Oglesby, Ottawa, Utica, Mendota, Streator, LaSalle.
Return to the main travel overview: Lasalle.
