Picnicking
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News You Can Use
Improvements are being made to the amenities at Messenger Woods, and picnic and camping permits will be unavailable until late May.
View more information.
Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve and Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher are closed for preserve improvements.
View more information.
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Picnic areas are a popular amenity at our preserves. Family and group gatherings, including reunions, graduation parties, wedding parties, and office picnics, are made all the more enjoyable when shared in the outdoors, surrounded by a peaceful, natural setting.
Picnic permits are required for groups of 25 people or more. Shelters have capacities of up to 200 people. Shelter amenities vary by shelter, but all include wheelchair accessible picnic tables and grills.
Shelters and groves are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis. Rentals reserve the site for the entire day. Call 815.727.8700 to check availability. All picnic rentals must be made in person at one of the following Visitor Centers: Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, or Monee Reservoir in Monee.
Certain activities are subject to approval and may require additional fees, including the use of a generator, moon walk, dunk tank, or tents. Call 815.727.8700 for more information.
No special permission is required to have alcohol at a picnic. Alcohol is allowed in forest preserves but is prohibited inside of the District's dog parks.
View details and capacities for all shelters and groves for which the District offers rental permits.
Photograph Courtesy of Glenn P. Knoblock
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Picnic Grove Rental
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The District offers one picnic grove for rental, Monee Grove at Monee Reservoir. Renters must be 18 years old and bring a valid driver's license or state ID.
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Resident: $35 |
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Non-Resident: $70 |
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Picnic Shelter Rental (200+ Capacity)
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The District offers one picnic shelter with a capacity of 200, Bluegill Hill Shelter at Monee Reservoir. Renters must be 18 years old and bring a valid driver's license or state ID.
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Resident: $100 |
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Non-Resident: $200 |
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Picnic Shelter Rental (Four Rivers Shelter)
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The Four Rivers Shelter at McKinley Woods in Channahon is a large-capacity shelter with electricity. Call 815.722.9470 to check availability or arrange for rental. Rental availability of the Four Rivers Shelter may also be viewed in the Four Rivers availability calendars.
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Resident: $300 |
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Non-Resident: $600 |
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Picnic Shelter Rental (Under 200 Capacity)
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Renters must be 18 years old and bring a valid driver's license or state ID.
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Resident: $60 |
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Non-Resident: $120 |
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Picnic Shelter Rental (With Electricity)
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The District offers three picnic shelters with electricity at McKinley Woods - Kerry Sheridan Grove in Channahon, Riverview Farmstead in Naperville, and Joliet Iron Works Historic Site in Joliet. Renters must be 18 years old and bring a valid driver's license or state ID.
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Resident: $70 |
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Non-Resident: $140 |
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View All Activity Fees |
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You can enjoy this activity at the following locations:
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| • Forsythe Woods (Wilmington) |
| • Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve (Beecher) |
| • Hadley Valley Preserve (New Lenox) |
| • Hammel Woods (Shorewood) |
| • Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Barrens (New Lenox) |
| • Hickory Creek Preserve - Hickory Creek Junction (Mokena) |
| • Hickory Creek Preserve - LaPorte Road Access (Mokena) |
| • Isle a la Cache Preserve (Romeoville) |
| • Joliet Iron Works Historic Site (Joliet) |
| • Lake Renwick Preserve - Turtle Lake (Plainfield) |
| • Lambs Woods (Lockport) |
| • Laughton Preserve (Wilton Center) |
| • McKinley Woods (Channahon) |
| • Messenger Marsh Preserve (Homer Glen) |
| • Messenger Woods Nature Preserve (Lockport) |
| • Monee Reservoir (Monee) |
| • Riverview Farmstead (Naperville) |
| • Rock Run Greenway - Black Road Access (Joliet) |
| • Rock Run Greenway - I&M Canal Access (Joliet) |
| • Rock Run Greenway - Paul V. Nichols Access (Joliet) |
| • Rock Run Greenway - Theodore Marsh (Crest Hill) |
| • Rock Run Rookery (Joliet) |
| • Runyon Preserve (Lockport) |
| • Veterans Woods (Romeoville) |
| • Whalon Lake (Naperville) |
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| • Environmental Learning Center (Mokena) |
| • Four Rivers Environmental Education Center (Channahon) |
| • Isle a la Cache Museum (Romeoville) |
| • Monee Reservoir (Monee) |
| • Plum Creek Nature Center (Crete) |
