The acquisition of Riverview Farmstead, one of the District's most unique preserves, began in 1994. A 15-acre purchase formed the core of a preserve which protects a historic farmstead on 111th and Book Road overlooking the DuPage River in Naperville. Preservation has continued since then, including the 10-acre Kropp-Schulenberg Prairie, to total 175 acres. The Naperville Park District holds a strip of property along the river itself.

The Farmstead was settled and built by the Clow family, and includes a mid-1800s limestone house, an early frame residence that had been converted to a barn, and a large timber frame barn. The site is being programmed for the interpretation of the historic transition from horse to mechanical-powered agriculture. To stabilize the timber frame barn, a “barn raising” was held in 2001.

Public access facilities were completed in 2010, and include a 1-mile asphalt trail, a canoe launch and landing, a picnic shelter with electricity, and other amenities. Future site improvements include restoration of the Clow Farmstead structures and extension of the trail both north and south with the cooperation of the City of Naperville and the Village of Plainfield.

The trail is part of the DuPage River Greenway Trail system, which is a 13-partner project that seeks to construct a trail along the river from Channahon in the south to Naperville and Bolingbrook in the north. Each agency is contributing portions of the trail as property is acquired and funding becomes available.

Photograph Courtesy of Ron Molk