Discover Rolling Meadows
8 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Plum Grove Park
Plum Grove Park offers a restored 19th‑century farmhouse, open prairie, pond and shady trails — a mix of historical architecture and natural landscapes. Best at golden hour or late afternoon for warm light on the house and long shadows on the prairie; spring and fall bring wildflowers and color. Free public park with roadside parking on Park Dr; trails are short and mostly accessible. Weekday mornings are quieter. No permit for casual photography, but check for events at the historic site.
South Salk Park
Small community park with wooded trails, a creek, a dedicated sledding hill and a large playground — good for environmental portraits, play-action and low-light sports shots under lighted fields. Best at golden hour or overcast days for soft light; winter offers dramatic sledding scenes. Accessible paths but parking is a short walk from some entrances; weekdays and mornings are quieter. No entry fee.
Kimball Hill Park
Small community park with open fields, wooded bike trails, a stocked fishing pond with fountain and waterfall, playgrounds and a memorial tower. Great for tranquil nature shots, reflective water compositions and candid family or event photography. Best at sunrise/sunset for warm light and calm water; weekday mornings or off-season reduce crowds. Easy parking near Kirchoff Rd; no entry fee. Be respectful at memorial and community events; watch for anglers and wildlife.
Countryside Park
Small suburban park with prairie, wetlands, ponds, walking trails and mature trees — good for intimate landscapes, reflections, seasonal color and birdlife. Visit at golden hour or early weekday mornings for calm water and few people. Free parking at the Euclid Ave lot; mostly flat, wheelchair-accessible paths. Spring and fall offer best color and migrant birds; winter gives graphic bare-branch compositions.
North Salk Park
Small suburban park with a pond, mature trees, open lawns and neighborhood paths—good for seasonal color, intimate landscapes, water reflections and casual wildlife (ducks). Best at golden hour (sunrise/sunset) for warm light and long shadows; spring and fall show strongest color; winter offers stark lines and frost. Accessible with street parking on Pheasant Dr, flat paved paths, no entry fee. Weekday mornings are quiet; expect family activity near the playground on weekends.
South Park
South Park is a small community green space offering lawns, tree-lined paths and open skies—good for seasonal foliage, cloudscapes and intimate nature shots close to suburban context. Visit at sunrise or golden hour for warm light and long shadows; late autumn brings color and winter can offer stark compositions. Easy street parking on Theda Ln; no entry fee. Weekday mornings are quiet; expect families and dog walkers in warmer months.
Rolling Meadows Fountain
A small municipal fountain in central Rolling Meadows offering reflective water, sculptural jets and nearby landscaping — good for intimate waterscape and urban-park shots. Best at golden hour or blue hour when lights and sky add color; evenings often have low crowd levels. Easily accessible with free street or park parking, wheelchair-friendly paths, no entry fee. Weekdays yield fewer people; expect typical suburban background buildings that can be used for context.
South Salk Park Playground
Small community playground with colorful equipment, shade trees and nearby paths — good for candid children's portraits, detail shots of textures and seasonal foliage. Easy access with parking, no entry fee; weekdays and early evenings avoid crowds. Golden hour and overcast days soften skin tones; snow or autumn leaves add interest. Respect family privacy and local rules.