Forest Preserve District of DuPage County facts for kids
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is a special group in Wheaton, Illinois. Their main job is to buy and protect land with forests, prairies, and wetlands. They also restore land to its natural state. This helps protect plants, animals, and beautiful scenery. It also gives people in DuPage County places to learn, have fun, and relax outdoors.
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History of the Forest Preserve
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County started in 1915. People voted to create it to save woodlands from being cut down. In its first year, they had $8,000 to begin their work. This was the fifth county forest preserve district in the United States.
In 1917, they bought their first piece of land. It was 79 acres in Oak Brook, called York Woods. Today, the District owns or manages almost 25,000 acres (about 100 square kilometers).
How the District is Run
A group of seven people called the Board of Commissioners leads the Forest Preserve District. Six of these commissioners are chosen by voters from different parts of the county. The seventh commissioner, who is the president, is chosen by all the voters in the county.
This Board makes rules to protect natural areas. They also work to make sure everyone can enjoy these places.
How the District Gets Money
The District mainly gets its money from property taxes. In 2006, about 2.2% of all county property taxes went to the Forest Preserve District. They also get help from grants and groups that raise money. The District also earns money from its three golf courses.
Taking Care of the Land
The District keeps buying important open spaces. This helps protect land as cities grow. They look for land that is natural and has native plants and animals. They also look for land that connects to existing preserves or rivers.
The District has a special plan to restore and protect the county's natural areas. They plant new trees and bring back prairies. They even use controlled fires to clear out plants that don't belong. This helps native plants grow better.
Fun Things to Do
The DuPage County forest preserves have almost 25,000 acres (100 square kilometers) of land. There are 31 lakes, 145 miles (233 kilometers) of trails, and 1,450 picnic tables. This means there are lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors!
You can go birdwatching, boating, camping, or fishing. You can also have picnics, go cross-country skiing, horseback riding, biking, or hiking.
Places to Learn and Explore
Danada Equestrian Center
Since 1984, the Danada Equestrian Center has taught people about horses. It is located in the Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton. Programs teach basic riding skills to people aged 12 and older.
They offer classes, group tours, and summer camps. You can also enjoy hayrides and sleigh rides at certain times of the year. Every October, the center hosts the Danada Fall Festival. This fun day celebrates horses with demonstrations, displays, food, music, and activities for kids.
Danada House
Near the Danada Equestrian Center is the Danada House. This large house used to be the home of Daniel and Ada Rice. It has 19 rooms and can be rented for parties, meetings, and other events.
The house has a bright annex with big windows. It can hold up to 250 people. Volunteers from the Friends of Danada group manage the house. They also run the 1950s Danada model farm.
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center
The Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center is in Oak Brook. It helps you learn about DuPage County's natural places. You can see how these areas have changed over time.
The center has fun, hands-on displays. You can learn about local plants and animals. There are also exhibits about the area's history, like the bones of a 13,000-year-old woolly mammoth! You can explore the trails or join special programs, like the Halloween Night Walks.
Graue Mill
A short walk from Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center is the Graue Mill and Museum. This old mill is a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can watch the mill work just like it did over 100 years ago. A non-profit group helps run the mill and the nearby Frederick Graue House.
Kline Creek Farm
Kline Creek Farm is a special farm that shows what life was like in the 1890s. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County owns and runs it. The farm is 200 acres and has restored buildings. These buildings show what a typical DuPage County farm looked like in the late 1800s. It is located in the 1,150-acre Timber Ridge Forest Preserve in West Chicago.
Kline Creek Farm is open most days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's free to visit!
You can see a restored farmhouse and barn. There are also copies of other farm buildings like a summer kitchen and chicken coop. Workers dressed in old-fashioned clothes explain what they are doing each day. Many 1890s-themed events happen throughout the year.
Some popular activities include:
- Ice Harvest in January
- Lambs being born in late winter
- Maple Sugaring in March
- Calving season in early spring
- Sheep Shearing in April
- Fourth of July Celebration
- Country Fair on Labor Day weekend
- Corn Harvest in October
- Christmas On the Farm in December
The farm also offers school trips and classes. You can learn old skills and trades. There's even a summer day camp for kids.
Kline Creek Farm is a real working farm. They raise different animals and grow crops. They have Shorthorn and Angus cattle, Southdown sheep, and chickens. They also use draft horses to show how farming was done long ago. The farm grows corn, oats, and soybeans.
The Timber Ridge Visitor Center is near the farm entrance. You can look in the gift shop and see exhibits about 1890s farm life. It's also a good place to start or end a walk on the trails.
Mayslake Peabody Estate
The Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, Illinois, is a beautiful place. It has the Mayslake Hall, a retreat wing, and the Portiuncula Chapel. The chapel is a copy of a famous chapel in Assisi, Italy. The estate is surrounded by the 90-acre Mayslake Forest Preserve.
Mayslake Hall is a large mansion with 39 rooms. It was built between 1919 and 1921 for a rich coal businessman. The Forest Preserve District is working to open the hall for events like workshops and school programs. You can take tours to see the restoration work. They also have music and lecture series. The chapel can be used for weddings. Each summer, a Shakespeare festival has outdoor plays on the estate grounds.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center
The Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn helps wild animals. It is a place where injured animals get better. Visitors can see over 80 wild animals that live there permanently because they can't go back to the wild. These include eagles, hawks, owls, foxes, raccoons, and woodchucks.
A half-mile nature trail takes you through different natural areas. It's a great place to see native and migrating birds. Inside, there are hands-on exhibits about wildlife. The center also helps wild animals from the county that have been hurt by people.
Golf Courses
The District has three public golf courses: Oak Meadows, Green Meadows, and Maple Meadows. These are great places to play golf and hold special events.
Oak Meadows Golf Club in Addison has an 18-hole golf course. It also has a pro shop and a driving range. You can rent the clubhouse for meetings or parties.
Maple Meadows Golf Club in Wood Dale has a challenging 27-hole course with water. The District bought this course in 1990 to help with flood control and to keep open green space.
Green Meadows Golf Course in Westmont is a nine-hole course. You don't need reservations, and you can play the course in about two hours. You can rent clubs and carts.
Mallard Lake County Forest Preserve
Mallard Lake County Forest Preserve is a 949-acre forest preserve. It surrounds Mallard Lake, which is 85 acres. This is the largest recreational lake in the District. The preserve started in 1956 with a donation of 111 acres.
McDowell Grove Forest Preserve
The 439-acre McDowell Grove Forest Preserve is located on the West Branch of the DuPage River. It was once a training center for the US Army. Today, you can enjoy many activities there. These include hiking, picnicking, fishing, and boating.
