Unimproved preserves

Unimproved preserves are areas of land kept in their undeveloped condition and have no public access. They are protected natural spaces where no parking lots, buildings, roads or major infrastructure are added. These areas are maintained for conservation purposes, with the potential for improvements to be made to some of these parcels in the future. 

As with all forest preserves, whether improved or unimproved, these properties provide habitat for plants and animals, contribute to cleaner air and water and help mitigate flooding. A total of 6,335 acres or 26.3 percent of the Forest Preserve’s property holdings are unimproved.

  • Alessio Prairie

    Location: Crest Hill 
    Acres: 13 
    Acquired: 1995

  • Birds Junction Marsh

    Location: Troy Township 
    Acres: 58  
    Acquired: 1995

  • Black Walnut Creek Preserve

    Location: Crete Township 
    Acres: 183  
    Acquired: 2006-2022

  • Briscoe Mounds

    Location: Channahon 
    Acres: 39  
    Acquired: 1937-1989

  • Caton Farm Preserve

    Location: Joliet 
    Acres: 36  
    Acquired: 2008

  • Deer Creek Preserve

    Location: Crete Township 
    Acres: 34 
    Acquired: 1994

  • Donohue Grove Preserve

    Location: Wesley Township 
    Acres: 418 
    Acquired: 2008-2012

  • DuPage River Confluence Preserve

    Location: Bolingbrook/Wheatland and DuPage townships 
    Acres: 266 
    Acquired: 1991-2015

  • Fiddyment Creek Preserve

    Location: Homer Glen 
    Acres: 292  
    Acquired: 2007-2008 

  • Hastert-Bechstein Preserve

    Location: Troy Township 
    Acres: 17  
    Acquired: 1992

  • Hunters Woods

    Location: Frankfort 
    Acres: 43 
    Acquired: 1973-1975

  • Huyck’s Grove Preserve

    Location: Wilton Township 
    Acres: 504  
    Acquired: 2006-2008

  • Jackson Creek Preserve

    Location: Green Garden Township 
    Acres: 737  
    Acquired: 2006-2009

  • John Wesley Preserve

    Location: Wesley Township 
    Acres: 274 
    Acquired: 2006-2008

  • Kankakee Sands Preserve

    Location: Custer Township 
    Acres: 241 
    Acquired: 2025

  • Kraske Preserve

    Location: Crest Hill 
    Acres: 10 
    Acquired: 1998

  • Lake of the Woods Preserve

    Location: Shorewood 
    Acres: 14 
    Acquired: 1998

  • Lily Cache Wetlands

    Location: Romeoville/Bolingbrook 
    Acres: 49 
    Acquired: 2007-2008

  • Lockport Loop Trail

    Location: Lockport/Lockport Township  
    Acres: 46 
    Acquired: 2011

  • Lockport Prairie East Preserve

    Location: Lockport  
    Acres: 30 
    Acquired: 1990-2008

  • Moeller Woods Preserve

    Location: Crete Township  
    Acres: 397 
    Acquired: 2003-2015

  • Plum Valley Ravines

    Location: Crete Township  
    Acres: 1,026 
    Acquired: 1979-2003

  • Potawatomi Woods Preserve

    Location: New Lenox Township 
    Acres: 114 
    Acquired: 2000 

  • Prairie Creek Preserve

    Location: Manhattan Township 
    Acres: 121 
    Acquired: 2006

  • Romeoville Prairie Nature Preserve

    Location: Romeoville  
    Acres: 336 
    Acquired: 1982-2003

  • Tempest Farm

    Location: Washington Township  
    Acres: 160 
    Acquired: 2020

  • Thorn Creek Headwaters Preserve

    Location: University Park/Monee and Monee Township 
    Acres: 426  
    Acquired: 2007-2008

  • Thorn Grove Preserve

    Location: Crete Township  
    Acres: 158 
    Acquired: 1991-2013

  • Vincennes Trail

    Location: Crete Township  
    Acres: 6 
    Acquired: 2005

  • Walnut Hollow

    Location: Joliet Township  
    Acres: 206 
    Acquired: 1973-1992

  • Wayne Lehnert Preserve

    Location: Peotone Township  
    Acres: 81 
    Acquired: 1971