Current headlines
Featured news
All news
-
Screen images from digital newsletter on birds
Hey bird nerds! Sign up for our new Flock and Feather digital newsletter
1/3/2023Read moreNow is the time of year when people make resolutions and, this year, ours is to keep finding new ways to connect with the public and share our love of nature.
-
Two men and a child get ready to fish
Forest Preserve surpasses 23,000-acre mark with 2022 acquisitions
12/19/2022Read moreFour acquisitions pushed the Forest Preserve over the 23,000-acre mark in 2022. Land acquisitions will continue in 2023 with the $3 million that is left in a land preservation program fund.
-
Aerial view of Lake Chaminwood
Forest Preserve Board approves balanced 2023 budget
11/14/2022Read moreThe Forest Preserve District's 2023 budget is balanced and its tax rate will drop 6.46% next year. The spending plan includes money for operations, maintenance and preserve improvement projects.
-
Red-spotted sunfish in a tank
Something fishy is going on at Four Rivers
11/9/2022Read moreA dozen state-threatened redspotted sunfish have been added to a 'gorgeous' new 2,000-gallon aquarium at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. The fish ambassadors will educate visitors about the plight of threatened and endangered fish species in Illinois.
-
Rev. Adrian Heath at Rock Run Greenway Trail
The Preserves Are for You: Leading others into nature, one step at a time
9/6/2022Read moreThe Rev. Adrian Heath grew up on the east side of Joliet where his recreational outings were held mostly indoors. He now leads a ministry that offers free nature outings in area preserves. It's his way of helping others find the peace that nature offers.
-
Man in wheelchair on trail with his daughter
The Preserves Are for You: Dad's love of outdoor recreation shows 'anything is possible'
8/12/2022Read moreBorn with a tumor on his spine and paralyzed since he was eight months old, Bill Bogdan of Mokena is extremely active in adaptive sports and loves nature. His lifetime of exploring the preserves, especially Hickory Creek Preserve near his home, has inspired his daughter, Hannah, to seek a career in adaptive outdoor recreation.
-
Aerial view of Hadley Valley
Creating connections: trail enhancements in the works for 2022 and beyond
1/31/2022Read moreImprovements are coming to the Forest Preserve District's extensive trail system. Some of the work will take place this year, and other projects are part of long-range plans with multiple partners.
-
Aerial view of Plum Valley Preserve
Lasting legacy: Forest Preserve grows by more than 1,500 acres
1/10/2022Read moreSome of the land was purchased, some donated and some was transferred from the state.
-
Image of Compass newsletter
Renamed and refreshed: Compass newsletter will help you navigate nature
12/22/2021Read moreThe Forest Preserve District's newsletter, The Citizen, which debuted 40 years ago, has a new name, a refreshed look and a new mix of content that is designed to inform, entertain, inspire and educate readers. You can subscribe to The Compass with a click of a mouse to receive this weekly digital publication in your email inbox. Current subscribers to The Citizen do not need to sign up a second time to receive The Compass.
-
Bald eagle soaring with nesting material
Are you seeing bald eagles in the preserves? Give them some space
12/14/2021Read moreIf you go eagle watching this year, remember to keep your distance so as not to disturb these amazing creatures. If a bird is reacting to you, then you are too close.
Events
First Time Fishing
Learn rod-and-reel fishing basics, safety and ethics plus try some shoreline fishing for yourself in this program for beginners.
First Time Fishing
Learn rod-and-reel fishing basics, safety and ethics plus try some shoreline fishing for yourself in this program for beginners.
The Buzz
Migration watch: Orioles have landed in Will County
Time to stock up on oranges and grape jelly. Baltimore orioles are back in Will County for the season.
Holey moley: Yellow-bellied sapsuckers leave distinct clues of their presence
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is the only woodpecker in the eastern United States, so their time in northern Illinois can be fleeting. Look for them in the spring and fall as they migrate through our area.
Brooding about cicadas? Here's the reason for all the hype this year
To not have heard the buzz about this year's cicada emergence you would have to have been where the cicadas themselves are right now — underground. Why all the hype? This year is the first time since 1803 that two broods of cicadas will have emerged in Illinois at the same time.