Lake Renwick Preserve facts for kids
The Lake Renwick Preserve is a large nature area in Will County, Illinois. It covers about 836 acres (3.38 km2). This makes it the second biggest nature preserve owned by the county government in Will County. The closest big town is Plainfield, Illinois. Lake Renwick is famous for being a special place where herons and other wading birds build their nests.
What Makes Lake Renwick Special?
Lake Renwick is not a natural lake. It was made from old quarries where people dug up rocks and gravel. This material was used to make concrete for buildings in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 1983, the quarries closed. Then, the deep holes filled up with water, creating the lakes you see today. In 1990, the county forest preserve and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources bought these lakes to turn them into a nature preserve.
Lake Renwick is perfect for wading birds to raise their families. This is because of its location, how deep it is, and how many fish live there. Unlike many lakes in Illinois, Lake Renwick has a gravel bottom instead of mud. The Illinois Audubon Society says that the heron nesting area here is "the most valuable rookery in all of Illinois." A "rookery" is a place where many birds gather to nest.
Bird lovers have even built special nesting platforms on small islands in the lake. Many different kinds of birds come here to nest. These include great blue herons, great egrets, black-crowned night herons, double-crested cormorants, and cattle egrets.
Visiting Lake Renwick Preserve Today
Lake Renwick Preserve is located near Plainfield, Illinois, right off U.S. Highway 30. To protect the nesting birds, most of the preserve is closed to visitors from March until mid-August. This helps the birds raise their young without being disturbed.
However, there is a special birdwatching area called Copley Nature Park that is open all year. From mid-August until the end of February, the entire preserve welcomes visitors.
During the months when birds are not nesting, people often use the Lake Renwick Bikeway. This trail system is about 2.9 miles (4.6 km) long. It follows old railroad tracks and paths that were once used to move rocks from the quarries. The Bikeway also gives you access to different spots where you can enjoy bank fishing.
If you want to watch birds during the nesting season, you can arrange a special guided tour with the Forest Preserve District. The best time to see the baby wading birds learning to catch fish is in June.
In 1992, a big part of Lake Renwick Preserve, about 320 acres (1.29 km2), was officially named a nature preserve by the state of Illinois. This means it's a very important place for wildlife.
