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A person snowshoeing.
Winter recreation options abound in Forest Preserve District
12/3/2024Read moreThe Forest Preserve District offers a variety of recreational opportunities in winter including hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. With 135 miles of trails, 40 improved preserves, two sled hills and six dog parks, there are many ways to stay active.
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Women pose in ugly holiday sweaters
Start your holiday festivities with a BYOB Ugly Sweater Bingo Brunch
12/2/2024Read moreHead over to Hickory Creek Junction on Sunday, Dec. 8, for bingo, brunch and an ugly sweater contest to ring in the holiday season. Breakfast tacos will be provided and prizes will be awarded for the best dressed, most festive, and crowd favorite.
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A collection of graphic T-shirts
Get 20% off Forest Preserve merchandise through Dec. 8
11/27/2024Read moreIf you’ve been searching for just the right gift for the nature lovers on your holiday list, you’re in luck because all Forest Preserve online merchandise is 20% off from Nov. 27 through Dec. 8. Visit OutsiderThreads.com and use the promo code HOLIDAY20.
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Image showing feet and the December dash logo
Virtual 5K makes a winter appearance with December Dash
11/25/2024Read moreThe December Dash virtual 5K began Dec. 1. To participate, pick one of 11 designated trails to run, jog or walk your race on any day through Dec. 31. The first 100 who submit a screenshot of their completed course will get a long-sleeve shirt.
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Graphic indicating a closure
Joliet Junction Trail section to close in December for Interstate 80 work
11/22/2024Read moreA section of the Joliet Junction Trail is scheduled to be closed for several days in December due to an Interstate 80 improvement project. The trail will be closed from McDonough Street to Moen Avenue.
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A man and woman stand on a sidewalk in a forest preserve.
Healing With Nature: Crete man battling cancer finds health and hope on paths at Goodenow Grove
11/21/2024Read moreTom Scott of Crete is giving thanks this year for the people in his life who pushed him to start walking at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve as he was recovering from cancer. The daily hikes have given him better health, hope for the future and a new appreciation of nature.
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A gift shop wall display. It features a variety of items for sale.
Visit Forest Preserve gift shops this holiday season for unique items
11/18/2024Read moreThree Forest Preserve visitor center gift shops are stocked with unique items that would be perfect as presents or stocking stuffers this holiday season. Check out the items at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Isle a la Cache Museum and Plum Creek Nature Center.
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A woman rides a bike
Forest Preserve Board approves balanced 2025 budget; property tax rate will decrease 27%
11/15/2024The Forest Preserve's Board of Commissioners approved a balanced 2025 budget on Nov. 14. The spending plan includes a 27% drop in the property tax rate and funding for operations, maintenance, land acquisition and preserve improvement projects.Read more -
Fall image showing fall frolic logo
Fall Frolic Take It Outside Challenge hits halfway mark, runs through Dec. 14
11/12/2024Read moreThe Fall Frolic Take It Outside Challenge is about halfway completed. But there's still plenty of time to pursue missions across the preserves while earning points through Dec. 14. Sign up today, or keep going if you're already a Goosechaser!
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Two men conducting a prescribed burn
Prescribed burn map: Here's where we're burning today
11/12/2024Read moreThis map is updated daily as another way to notify the public when a prescribed burn is being conducted.
Events
Volunteer Morning: Theodore Marsh
Make a difference in your community be signing up for your Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service volunteer morning at Theodore Marsh.
BYOB Ugly Sweater Bingo Brunch
C’mon on out with some holiday cheer for a winter edition of our beloved BYOB Bingo!
The Buzz
Did your outdoor holiday lights go dark? You probably can blame these troublemakers
Almost nothing kills the holiday spirit quite like looking out your window to find that the Christmas lights you spent hours hanging outside are no longer lighting up the winter night.
Five fast facts about the mallard, our most well-known duck
Mallards are the quintessential duck — the species that comes to mind when thinking about ducks. Here's your chance to learn all about them.
Small by mighty weasels pack a carnivorous punch
Two weasel species live in Illinois, but you're not likely to come across either of them even in areas where they are common.