DuPage Forest Blog

Hidden History of McDowell Grove

on 5/25/22 7:32 AM By | Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Sometimes the history of a DuPage forest preserve is simply forgotten, but other times it is purposely kept secret. In the 1940s, McDowell Grove Forest Preserve in Naperville played more than one clandestine role, sparking rumors that evolved into legends.

Hidden History: Burlington Park as Chicago's Recreation Destination

on 4/20/22 7:39 AM By | Dennis Buck | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Railroads were crucial to the development of the United States, sparking economic and industrial expansion all around them and carrying people and goods across the country. One of the area’s most famous railroads also played an important part in the development of DuPage County’s park system.

Dying Easter Eggs in the 1890s

on 4/15/22 12:43 PM By | Wayne Hill | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Nature native plant History

Natural dyes were used in a variety of ways in a colorful Victorian life in the 1890s.

Perk Up Your Parkway with Native Plants

on 4/1/22 10:43 AM By | Keriann Dubina | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Nature native plant Native Plant Sale

Planting native plants in your parkway is a great way to help people appreciate native plants by growing them in your parkway for all to enjoy. And it helps pollinators too!

Hidden History of Mammoth Spring Icehouse

on 3/25/22 4:52 PM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

If you look closely while walking along the Night Heron Trail at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook, you can find a little piece of history.

Hidden History of Dunham's Equine Legacy

on 2/24/22 9:49 AM By | Jordan Countryman | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Most people know that “in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” But did you know that in 1893 Christopher Columbus took a train to Dunham Forest Preserve in Wayne?

District's Freshwater Mussels Help 3 Waterways

on 1/24/22 2:48 PM By | Joe Limpers | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Community partnership Wildlife Conservation

Ecologists at the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s Urban Stream Research Center successfully propagated and released 495 freshwater mussels in three different watersheds in 2021.

Hidden History of the Blackwell Mammoth

on 1/12/22 12:34 PM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

It started like a normal day for Gary Jones, a heavy equipment operator for the DuPage Forest Preserve District.

New Program Introduces Kids to Nature

on 1/3/22 8:31 AM By | Jenny Kamm, Derek Gronlund, and Jennifer Rydzewski | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

Think back to your childhood. You may have had someone in your life who introduced you to the outdoors.

Join Our New Winter Adventure Series

on 12/15/21 1:10 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails Recreation Wildlife Nature

As the lakes freeze and the ground turns white, we’ll be adding a flurry of outdoor fun to our winter program lineup!

The Hidden History of Ancient Artifacts

on 11/23/21 2:35 PM By | Keith McClow | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

People have lived in DuPage County for thousands of years, so it’s no surprise that some of the tools and objects they used are still being found in many DuPage forest preserves.

Snow Plowing and Trail Grooming in the Preserves

on 11/19/21 12:00 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails

DuPage forest preserves are a magical sight to behold after a freshly fallen snow. We know many of you can’t wait to get out there to see the magnificent beauty, but sometimes it’s hard to know what parking lots will be plowed first and what trails will be groomed first for cross-country skiing.

Hidden History of Waterfall Glen's Lincoln Park Nursery

on 10/26/21 10:20 AM By | Dave Andrusyk | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Plants Conservation History

Many people visiting the city of Chicago spend time in Lincoln Park, but few know the connection that DuPage Forest Preserve District’s Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Darien has with one of the largest parks in the city.

Teen Transforms Container into Scenic Landscape

on 10/22/21 1:38 PM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

Emelia Buckley likes painting the natural world because “it’s the most complex and simple concept on earth.” So she jumped at the chance to paint a nature scene on the biggest “canvas” she had ever worked on.

Carrying on the Legacy of the Heritage Shorthorn

on 10/13/21 1:52 PM By | Lisa Carpenter | 0 Comments | Insider Locations

Since acquiring its first Heritage Milking Shorthorn cow, Liberty, in 2018, Kline Creek Farm’s herd of Heritage Milking Shorthorn cattle has been growing. The farm now has four animals in the herd, including Liberty’s daughter and granddaughter, who was born this past spring.

Nature's Tricks Are a Nature Lover's Treat

on 10/12/21 2:16 PM By | Stephanie Touzalin | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

Wildlife have long embodied the spirit of Halloween using tricks, treats, and costumes. These strategies are essential for wild animals to survive, find food, and attract mates.

Hidden History of the Steeplechase

on 10/6/21 1:49 PM By | Wayne Zaininger | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

What happens when you combine a love of horses with a passion for philanthropy? At St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville in the 1980s and 1990s, it resulted in an annual steeplechase event that drew thousands to the farm, dominated the work schedules of farm employees, and made a meaningful impact on a local charity.

Halloween Happenings

on 10/5/21 8:51 AM By | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Trails Recreation Wildlife Nature Willowbrook

Looking for some “spooktacular” fun in October? Look no further than DuPage forest preserves! From haunted hikes and wagon rides to pumpkin stories and rhymes for little ones, we’ve got a thrilling lineup of Halloween happenings this year, so register soon!

Bosnian Students Visit Urban Stream Research Center

on 10/1/21 8:48 AM By | Glenn Perricone | 0 Comments | Insider Locations Natural resources Conservation restoration

A group of 17 Bosnian high school students recently took part in an aquatic ecology program at the Forest Preserve District’s Urban Stream Research Center at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. They were visiting the United States for three weeks on a tour that emphasized leadership, American government and culture.

DuPage Through the Lens of My Nikon

on 9/21/21 3:14 PM By | Daniel Walker | 0 Comments | Insider Locations History

The pandemic has affected us in varying ways. Early on, many believed it would be over quickly and be nothing more than a minor historical footnote.

Nature's Storytellers

A Blog About Nature in Our DuPage Forest Preserves