Frequently Asked Questions
How long has there been a Forest Preserve District of DuPage County?
The Forest Preserve District was established in 1915, when county residents voted to preserve a stand of mature woodlands. The passage of the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act two years earlier, which provided for the creation of agencies “to acquire and hold land,” made the historic vote possible.
DuPage County officials appropriated $8,000 to create, manage and maintain the Forest Preserve District, the fifth of its kind in the nation, and spent the next two years working out operating details. In 1917, the county established the first District tax levy and purchased its first parcel, the 79-acre York Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook.
How much land does the Forest Preserve District own?
The District owns or manages over 25,000 acres of land at over 60 forest preserves, about 12 percent of the total land in DuPage County. As a result, every home and business in DuPage County is no more than ten minutes from a forest preserve.
Within these 25,000 acres are 60 forest preserves, 600 acres of lakes, 47 miles of rivers and streams, and over 145 miles of trails. Some forest preserves are jointly owned, and some are the site of nature centers or amenities operated by other agencies.
I see crews working at one of the forest preserves. Where can I find out what they’re doing?
For current information on conservation efforts, accessibility upgrades, amenity improvements and facility restorations, visit Projects and Plans.
How many people visit the forest preserves each year?
Each year, 3.4 million visitors enjoy the county’s 60 forest preserves. Additionally, over 100,000 visitors participate annually in educational and cultural programs at the Forest Preserve District’s five education centers.
Do I need a license to fish in a DuPage forest preserve?
Yes. Any angler who is 16 years of age or older and is not legally disabled must carry a valid Illinois sport fishing license. Anglers must also carry valid Inland Trout Stamps to take trout from District lakes.
By special arrangement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, individuals participating in District fishing programs can fish without a license during those programs. Trout-fishing programs are an exception; any angler who is 16 years of age or older and is not legally disabled must have a valid Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp. For additional information, visit Fishing.
Where can I let my dog play without a leash?
The District operates off-leash dog areas at six forest preserves: Blackwell in Warrenville, East Branch in Glendale Heights, Greene Valley and Springbrook Prairie in Naperville, Mayslake in Oak Brook and Pratt’s Wayne Woods in Wayne. Owners must purchase off-leash permits in advance and have their dogs’ valid permits in their possession when in the off-leash areas. For details, visit Dog Areas.
I want to go horseback riding. Which trails can I use? Does the Forest Preserve District rent horses?
The District does not operate a commercial stable and does not rent horses. Equestrians do not need special permits to ride their horses on Forest Preserve District trails and can use any District trail that is designed for horseback riding. Horses are, however, prohibited at all picnic areas, campgrounds, off-leash dog areas and model-craft areas. For specifics on trails and horse-trailer parking areas, visit Horseback Riding.
I think I’m eligible for a discounted or free permit. What identification do I need to provide?
Senior citizens, ages 65 and older, must provide valid driver’s licenses or state-issued identifications. Members of the military must present current military identifications or DD214 forms showing honorable discharge. Individuals do not need to be residents of DuPage County to receive these benefits.
To receive DuPage County residential rates for model craft, picnic or camping permits, individuals must present valid forms of identification that display their DuPage County addresses. To receive DuPage County residential rates for off-leash dog permits, owners must provide proof of DuPage County residency, as ntoed above, and their dogs' valid DuPage County rabies tag numbers.
Can I have my wedding at the Forest Preserve District?
The Forest Preserve District offers several indoor and outdoor settings perfect for weddings and other special events, from beautiful forest preserve landscapes to a 1930s mansion with a modern, window-filled atrium to a replica of the chapel of St. Francis of Assisi. For complete details, visit Event Venues.
Please note that outdoor forest preserve locations close one hour after sunset and that musical bands, disc jockeys, and alcohol are not permitted. Fees vary based on the location and special services that may be required
Visitor Services processes special use permits, and can explain what is required and which locations are available. Call the department weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (630) 933-7248.
Where can I go boating?
Visitors can rent rowboats, canoes and kayaks at Herrick Lake at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve and Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve. A driver’s license is required as a deposit for all rentals.
Boaters with valid District permits can use select private nongasoline-powered watercraft on lakes at three forest preserves: Silver Lake at Blackwell, Round Meadow Lake at Hidden Lake and Mallard Lake at Mallard Lake. Owners must register their watercraft with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For complete information on rentals and private-boating permits, visit Boating.
I want to use one of the District’s youth-group campgrounds. Is my group eligible?
Youth groups are defined as recognized, nonprofit organizations with bylaws and articles of incorporation on file with the Secretary of State and must be insured on forest preserve property. Only members of these groups, with their accompanying leaders, may camp in these areas. Camping permits and adult supervision of one leader over 21 years of age for every 10 children are mandatory for use of these areas. For complete details, including permit information, visit Camping.
When is the family campground open?
The Blackwell Family Campground in Warrenville operates May through September on Friday and Saturday nights with additional nights during holiday weeks.
The campground has 60 wooded and semiwooded sites suitable for tents, trailers and motor homes. Each site has a gravel parking pad, fire ring, and picnic table; some have electricity. The campground has latrines, running water, trash and recycling containers, restrooms with showers, and a dump station for recreational vehicles with self-contained waste systems but not sewage or water hookups. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground; outside firewood is not allowed. For complete details, including information on reservations, visit Camping.
Where can I go sledding? Can I ice skate, too?
A sled, some snow and some open space can create fun for young and old alike. Visitors are welcome to sled or ice skate at their own risk at any forest preserve location unless otherwise posted. Sledding, however, is always prohibited at Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, on the closed landfill sites at Greene Valley in Naperville and Mallard Lake in Hanover Park, and on any of the slopes at Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale.
At least 4 inches of ice is recommended for any ice activity. Rangers do not monitor ice thickness, and all ice-related activities are done at the user’s own risk. Due to water-level issues, ice skating and ice fishing are prohibited at Spring Creek Reservoir Forest Preserve in Bloomingdale.
Other popular winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and tubing down Mount Hoy. For more information, visit Winter Activities.
Can I collect firewood, plants or seeds from forest preserves?
No. The collection, destruction or damage of any natural resource is prohibited by the District’s General Use Ordinance Chapter III, Section 2.
What can I do to deter nuisance wildlife?
It is illegal to trap or kill most wild animals without appropriate permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Regardless, removing a nuisance animal is not a solution because the animal will likely return. The best long-term solution is to alter conditions so they no longer attract the animal.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center, the Forest Preserve District’s wildlife education and rehabilitation center in Glen Ellyn, offers assistance for individuals with native nuisance or orphaned wildlife. If you come across a wild animal, leave it alone and call Willowbrook Wildlife Center’s 24-hour automated phone line at (630) 942-6200 for advice.
What educational resources are available?
There are countless ways to explore the natural world in your forest preserves. Programs for the public, workshops for educators, field trip programs and more offer experiences for everyone.
The District’s five educational and cultural centers, Danada Equestrian Center, Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, Kline Creek Farm, Mayslake Peabody Estate, and Willowbrook Wildlife Center, offer exhibits, programs and hands-on experiences. For more information, visit Education Centers.
Does the District operate landfills?
The District has operated three landfills, all of which are now closed. Some District properties contain They continue to be monitored by the District’s Office of Environmental Services, and gas-to-energy plants operate at the Greene Valley and Mallard Lake landfills. Environmental Services also manages the clean-up or remediation of other contaminated parcels of land the District has acquired over the years. Once the parcels are remediated and restored, they can be returned to the residents of DuPage County for their use. The remediations are funded by revenues the District received from the landfills and not by tax dollars.
Does the Forest Preserve District have its own police department?
Yes, the District has its own Office of Law Enforcement with specially trained, sworn police officers who patrol the forest preserves and enforce federal, state, and county laws and District ordinances. For more information, visit Law Enforcement.