Английская Википедия:Forest Preserve District of Cook County

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use mdy dates Шаблон:Infobox organization

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County is a governmental commission in Cook County, Illinois, that owns and manages land containing forest, prairie, wetland, streams, and lakes. These land holdings are primarily managed as undeveloped natural areas and for outdoor recreation. The Forest Preserve District encompasses approximately Шаблон:Convert of land or approximately 11% of the land in Cook County,[1] which contains the city of Chicago and is the most densely populated urban metropolitan area in the Midwest. The Forest Preserves also owns the lands on which the Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Botanic Garden operate.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners also serves ex-officio as the board for the district. The Forest Preserve District headquarters is located in River Forest, Illinois.

Background

Forest preserves serve a different purpose than urban parks and are typically maintained for the conservation and restoration of habitat. Forest preserves may contain nature centers and other facilities, picnic groves, and hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, but, apart from public golf courses, do not typically contain land set aside for other sports activities.[2]

The forest preserves are administered by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, which operates within a special taxation district across municipal boundaries. While the Forest Preserve District as a unit of government is legally separate from Cook County, the Cook county board of commissioners, the county board president, and county clerk hold the same offices ex officio concurrently, making up the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners.[3]

History

In 1905, at the instigation of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and private nature groups (partly guided by prominent landscape architect Jens Jensen), Illinois attempted to pass a forest preserve act, but the act was not signed by the governor.[4][5] The Forest Preserve District Association was formed in 1911 after a new state law was adopted in 1909; however, the courts declared the law unconstitutional in 1911. In 1913, Illinois adopted the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act[3] that was signed by the governor and survived legal challenge. The 1913 law allowed a county board: Шаблон:Cquote A Cook County referendum required by the 1913 law was passed by voters in 1914, establishing the Forest Preserve District of Cook County,[6] and the first Board meeting was held in February 1915.[6]

Operations

The Forest Preserve District operates six nature centers used for programming and education,[7] five campgrounds,[8] and three swimming centers as of 2023.[9] The Forest Preserve District also maintains ten public golf courses. In addition to owning and managing tens of thousands of acres of forest, meadow, and wetlands,[1] both the Brookfield Zoo (managed by agreement with the Chicago Zoological Society) and the Chicago Botanic Gardens (managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society) are located on district land. In 2016, a tree-top zipline course was opened in west Cook County's Bemis Woods.[10]

Eight significant waterways flow, at least in part, through lands in the Forest Preserve District: the Chicago River, the Des Plaines River, the Little Calumet River, Salt Creek, Poplar Creek, Thorn Creek, Crooked Creek, and Tinley Creek.

National sites

The Ned Brown Forest Preserve contains Busse Woods, a National Natural Landmark. The District also administers the Chicago Portage National Historic Site. In addition, the District's Red Gate Woods was the war-time home of the Manhattan Project's first nuclear facility.

Conservation

A team of district biologists and resource management professionals monitor wildlife and plants (including invasive species), water quality, and other features within the district. Monitoring may include counting population numbers and tracking the presence of animals across the district and assessing habitat needs for rare species. Through monitoring, it was discovered that river otters had returned to the district after nearly a century of absence.[11]

The Forest Preserve District owns 22 sites containing high-quality conservation resources that have been designated as Illinois Nature Preserves ensuring increased management and protection.[12]

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) conservation program designated the Forest Preserve District's Palos Preserves an Urban Night Sky Place. After review, the IDA determined that within the context of its substantial urban setting, the preserve's "planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light."[13]

Trail systems

There are thirteen trail systems within the Forest Preserve District:

  • Arie Crown Forest trail system
  • Burnham Greenway trail system
  • Busse Woods bicycle trail
  • Centennial and I&M Canal trail system
  • Deer Grove trail system
  • Des Plaines River Trail system
  • North Branch Trail system
  • Palos Trail system
  • Poplar Creek trail system
  • Sag Valley trail system
  • Salt Creek trail system
  • Thorn Creek trail system
  • Tinley Creek trail system

Facilities by region

Region 1: Northwest Cook County

Poplar Creek Division

Includes: Spring Lake Preserve, Crabtree Preserve, Arthur L. Janura Preserve

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Barrington Road Pond Шаблон:· Beverly Lake Шаблон:· Bluff Springs Fen Шаблон:· Bode East Шаблон:· Bode Lake Шаблон:· Crabtree Nature Center Шаблон:· Great Egret Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Old Stover Trailhead Шаблон:· Penny Road Pond Шаблон:· Poplar Creek Bicycle Lot Шаблон:· Poplar Creek Equestrian Parking Шаблон:· Poplar Creek Model Airplane Flying Field Шаблон:· Shoe Factory Road Woods Шаблон:· Spring Creek Valley Headwaters Шаблон:· Spring Lake Nature Preserve

Trail Systems Шаблон:· Crabtree Preserve (Paved) Шаблон:· Poplar Creek (Paved) Шаблон:· Poplar Creek (Unpaved) Шаблон:· Spring Lake (Unpaved)

Region 2: Northwest Cook County

Northwest Division

Includes: Deer Grove Preserve, Jens Jensen Preserve, Paul Douglas Preserve, Ned Brown Preserve

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Baker's Lake Overlook Шаблон:· Baker's Lake Younghusband Prairie Шаблон:· Busse Forest-Central Шаблон:· Busse Forest-North Шаблон:· Busse Forest-South Шаблон:· Busse Forest-West Шаблон:· Busse Forest Elk Pasture Шаблон:· Busse Forest Main Dam Шаблон:· Busse Lake Beisner Road Access Шаблон:· Busse Lake Boating Center Шаблон:· Camp Alphonse Шаблон:· Camp Reinberg Шаблон:· Deer Grove Шаблон:· Deer Grove-East Шаблон:· Deer Grove-West Шаблон:· Deer Grove Lake Шаблон:· Grassy Ridge Meadow Шаблон:· Highland Woods Driving Range Шаблон:· Highland Woods Golf Course Шаблон:· Ned Brown Meadow Шаблон:· Woodland Meadow

Trail Systems Шаблон:· Busse Forest (Paved) Шаблон:· Deer Grove (Paved) Шаблон:· Deer Grove (Unpaved) Шаблон:· Paul Douglas (Paved)

Region 3: North Cook County

Indian Boundary Division, Des Plaines Division

Includes: Seymour Simon Preserve

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Allison Woods Шаблон:· Axehead Lake Шаблон:· Beck Lake Шаблон:· Belleau Lake Шаблон:· Big Bend Lake Шаблон:· Blandings Grove Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Blue Beach Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Camp Baden Powell Шаблон:· Camp Dan Beard Шаблон:· Camp Ground Road Woods Шаблон:· Camp Pine Woods Шаблон:· Catherine Chevalier Woods Шаблон:· Che-Che-Pin-Qua Woods Шаблон:· Chippewa Woods Шаблон:· Dam No. 1 Woods-East Шаблон:· Dam No. 1 Woods-West Шаблон:· Dam No. 2 Woods Шаблон:· Dam No. 4 Woods-East Шаблон:· Evans Field Шаблон:· Fullerton Woods Шаблон:· Fullerton Woods Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Harry H. Semrow Driving Range Шаблон:· Indian Boundary Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Indian Boundary Golf Course Шаблон:· Iroquois Woods Шаблон:· Irving Park Road Canoe Landing Шаблон:· Jerome Huppert Woods Шаблон:· John E. Traeger Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Kloempken Prairie Шаблон:· Lake Avenue Woods-East Шаблон:· Lake Avenue Woods-West Шаблон:· Lions Woods Шаблон:· Massasauga Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Northwestern Woods Шаблон:· Potawatomi Lake Шаблон:· Potawatomi Woods Шаблон:· River Bend Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· River Trail Nature Center[14] Шаблон:· Robinson Homestead Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Robinson Woods-South Шаблон:· Schiller Model Airplane Flying Field Шаблон:· Schiller Playfield Шаблон:· Schiller Pond Шаблон:· Schiller Woods-East Шаблон:· Schiller Woods-South Шаблон:· Schiller Woods-West Шаблон:· Sunset Bridge Meadow

Trail System Шаблон:· Des Plaines (Unpaved)

Region 4: North Cook County

North Branch Division, Skokie Division

Includes: William N. Erickson Preserves, George F. Nixon Forest, Frank Bobrytzke Forest, Clayton F. Smith Preserves, Roman Pucinski Preserve

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Billy Caldwell Golf Course Шаблон:· Blue Star Memorial Woods Шаблон:· Bunker Hill Шаблон:· Caldwell Woods Шаблон:· Calvin R. Sutker Grove Шаблон:· Camp Adahi Шаблон:· Camp Glenview Шаблон:· Chick Evans Golf Course Шаблон:· Chipilly Woods Шаблон:· Edgebrook Golf Course Шаблон:· Edgebrook Woods Шаблон:· Erickson Woods Шаблон:· Forest Glen Woods Шаблон:· Forest Way Grove Шаблон:· Glen Grove Equestrian Center Шаблон:· Glenview Woods Шаблон:· Harms Woods-Central Шаблон:· Harms Woods-North Шаблон:· Harms Woods-South Шаблон:· Irene C. Hernandez Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· LaBagh Woods Шаблон:· Linne Woods Шаблон:· Little House of Glencoe Шаблон:· Mary Mix McDonald Woods Шаблон:· Mathew Bieszczat–Volunteer Resource Center Шаблон:· Miami Woods Шаблон:· Perkins Woods Шаблон:· St. Paul Woods Шаблон:· Sidney Yates Flatwoods Шаблон:· Skokie Lagoons Шаблон:· Somme Nature Preserve Шаблон:· Somme Prairie Grove Шаблон:· Somme Woods Шаблон:· Thaddeus S. "Ted" Lechowicz Woods Шаблон:· Tower Road Шаблон:· Tower Road Boat Launch Шаблон:· Turnbull Woods Шаблон:· Watersmeet Woods Шаблон:· Wayside Woods Шаблон:· Whealan Pool Aquatic Center

Special Activity Site Шаблон:· Chicago Botanic Garden

Trail Systems Шаблон:· North Branch (Paved) Шаблон:· North Branch (Unpaved)

Region 5: West Cook County

Salt Creek Division

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Andrew Toman Grove Шаблон:· Bemis Woods-North Шаблон:· Bemis Woods-South Шаблон:· Brezina Woods Шаблон:· Brookfield Woods Шаблон:· Callahan Grove Шаблон:· Cermak Family Aquatic Center Шаблон:· Cermak Quarry Шаблон:· Cermak Woods Шаблон:· Cummings Square (General Headquarters) Шаблон:· G.A.R. Woods Шаблон:· Hal Tyrrell Trailside Museum Шаблон:· LaGrange Park Woods Шаблон:· Maywood Grove Шаблон:· McCormick Woods Шаблон:· Meadowlark Golf Course Шаблон:· Miller Meadow-North Шаблон:· Miller Meadow-South Шаблон:· National Grove-North Шаблон:· National Grove-South Шаблон:· Ottawa Trail Woods-North Шаблон:· Ottawa Trail Woods-South Шаблон:· Plank Road Meadow Boat Launch Шаблон:· Possum Hollow Woods Шаблон:· Quercus Woods Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Salt Creek Woods Шаблон:· Schuth's Grove Шаблон:· Silver Creek Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Stony Ford Canoe Landing Шаблон:· Thatcher Woods Шаблон:· Thatcher Woods Glen Шаблон:· Thomas Jefferson Woods Шаблон:· Twenty-Sixth Street Woods-East Шаблон:· Twenty-Sixth Street Woods-West Шаблон:· Westchester Woods Шаблон:· White Eagle Woods-North Шаблон:· White Eagle Woods-South Шаблон:· Wolf Road Prairie Шаблон:· Zoo Woods

Trail Systems Шаблон:· Salt Creek (Paved) Шаблон:· Salt Creek (Unpaved) Шаблон:· Salt Creek Greenway (Paved)

Special Activity Sites Шаблон:· Brookfield Zoo Шаблон:· Chicago Portage National Historic Site

Region 6: Southwest Cook County

Salt Creek Division, Palos Division

Includes: Palos Preserves

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Arie Crown Forest Шаблон:· Belly Deep Slough Шаблон:· Buffalo Woods-Central Шаблон:· Buffalo Woods Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Buffalo Woods-North Шаблон:· Buffalo Woods-South Шаблон:· Bullfrog Lake Шаблон:· Camp Kiwanis Equestrian Staging Area Шаблон:· Columbia Woods Шаблон:· Country Lane Woods Шаблон:· Cranberry Slough Шаблон:· Crawdad Slough Шаблон:· Crooked Creek Woods Шаблон:· Dan McMahon Woods Шаблон:· Henry De Tonty Woods Шаблон:· Hickory Hills Woods Шаблон:· Hidden Pond Woods-East Шаблон:· Hidden Pond Woods-West Шаблон:· Joe's Pond Шаблон:· John Husar I&M Canal–Bicycle Trail Parking Lot Шаблон:· Lake Ida Шаблон:· Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center Шаблон:· Maple Lake Boating Center Шаблон:· Maple Lake-East Шаблон:· Maple Lake Шаблон:· Maple Lake Overlook Шаблон:· Morrill Meadow Шаблон:· Palos Fen Шаблон:· Paw Paw Woods Шаблон:· Pioneer Woods Шаблон:· Pulaski Woods Шаблон:· Pulaski Woods-East Шаблон:· Pulaski Woods-South–Mountain Bike Staging Area Шаблон:· Red Gate Woods Шаблон:· Saganashkee Slough-Central Шаблон:· Saganashkee Slough-East Шаблон:· Saganashkee Slough Boat Launch Шаблон:· Spears Woods Шаблон:· Sundown Meadow Шаблон:· Theodore Stone Forest Шаблон:· Tuma Lake Шаблон:· White Oak Woods Шаблон:· Willow Springs Woods Шаблон:· Wolf Road Woods

Trail Systems Шаблон:· Arie Crown (Unpaved) Шаблон:· Centennial (Unpaved) Шаблон:· John Husar I&M Canal (Paved) Шаблон:· Palos (Unpaved)

Region 7: Southwest Cook County

Sag Valley Division

Includes: Black Partridge Preserve, Cap Sauer's Preserve, John J. Duffy Preserve, Edward M. Sneed Forest

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Bergman Slough Шаблон:· Black Partridge Woods Шаблон:· Cap Sauers Holding Шаблон:· Cherry Hill Woods Шаблон:· Forty Acre Woods Шаблон:· Horsetail Lake Шаблон:· McGinnis Slough Шаблон:· McClaughrey Spring Woods Шаблон:· Orland Grassland[15] Шаблон:· Orland Grove Шаблон:· Paddock Woods Шаблон:· Palos Park Woods-North Шаблон:· Palos Park Woods-South Шаблон:· Papoose Lake Шаблон:· Sag Quarries Шаблон:· Sagawau Environmental Learning Center Шаблон:· Southland Volunteer Resource Center Шаблон:· Swallow Cliff Woods-North Шаблон:· Swallow Cliff Woods-South Шаблон:· Tampier Greenway Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Tampier Lake Boating Center Шаблон:· Tampier Lake-North Шаблон:· Tampier Lake-West Шаблон:· Teason's Woods

Trail Systems Шаблон:· Centennial (Unpaved) Шаблон:· Sag Valley (Unpaved)

Region 8: South Cook County

Tinley Creek Division

Includes: South Green Belt Preserve

Activity Areas Шаблон:·Arrowhead Lake Шаблон:· Bachelor's Grove Woods Шаблон:· Bartel Grassland Шаблон:· Bobolink Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Bremen Grove Шаблон:· Bur Oak Woods Шаблон:· Camp Falcon Шаблон:· Camp Sullivan Шаблон:· Carlson Springs Woods Шаблон:· Catalina Grove Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Coopers Hawk Grove Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Elizabeth A. Conkey Forest-North Шаблон:· Elizabeth A. Conkey Forest-South Шаблон:· Flossmoor Road Bicycle Lot Шаблон:· George W. Dunne National Driving Range Шаблон:· George W. Dunne National Golf Course Шаблон:· Goeselville Grove Family Picnic Area Шаблон:· Midlothian Meadows Шаблон:· Midlothian Reservoir Шаблон:· Rubio Woods Шаблон:· St. Mihiel Woods-East Шаблон:· Tinley Creek Model Airplane Flying Field Шаблон:· Tinley Creek Woods Шаблон:· Turtlehead Lake Шаблон:· Vollmer Road Grove Шаблон:· Yankee Woods

Trail Systems Шаблон:· Tinley Creek (Paved) Шаблон:· Tinley Creek (Unpaved)

Region 9: Southeast Cook County

Calumet Division, Thorn Creek Division

Includes: Plum Creek Preserve; Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh Naure Preserve

Activity Areas Шаблон:· Beaubien Woods Шаблон:· Beaubien Woods Boat Launch Шаблон:· Brownell Woods Шаблон:· Burnham Prairie Nature Preserve Шаблон:· Burnham Woods Golf Course Шаблон:· Calumet City Playfield Шаблон:· Calumet City Prairie Шаблон:· Calumet Woods Шаблон:· Clayhole Woods Шаблон:· Dan Ryan Woods-91st Street Шаблон:· Dan Ryan Woods-Central Шаблон:· Dan Ryan Woods-East Шаблон:· Dan Ryan Woods-North Шаблон:· Dan Ryan Woods-South Шаблон:· Dan Ryan Woods-West Шаблон:· Dixmoor Playfield Шаблон:· Eggers Grove Шаблон:· Flatfoot Lake Шаблон:· Glenwood Woods-North Шаблон:· Glenwood Woods-South Шаблон:· Green Lake Family Aquatic Center Шаблон:· Green Lake Woods Шаблон:· Indian Hill Woods Шаблон:· Joe Louis "The Champ" Golf Course Шаблон:· Joe Orr Woods Шаблон:· Jurgensen Woods Шаблон:· Kickapoo Woods Шаблон:· King's Grove Шаблон:· Lansing Woods Шаблон:· Little Calumet Boat Launch Шаблон:· Michael J. O'Malley Preserve Шаблон:· North Creek Meadow Шаблон:· Plum Creek Play Meadow Шаблон:· Powderhorn Lake Шаблон:· River Oaks Golf Course Шаблон:· Sand Ridge Nature Center Шаблон:· Sand Ridge Prairie Nature Preserve Шаблон:· Sauk Lake Шаблон:· Sauk Trail Woods-Central Шаблон:· Sauk Trail Woods-East Шаблон:· Sauk Trail Woods-North Шаблон:· Sauk Trail Woods-South Шаблон:· Schubert's Woods Шаблон:· Shabbona Woods Шаблон:· Sweet Woods Шаблон:· Thorn Creek Model Airplane Flying Field Шаблон:· Thornton-Lansing Road–Nature Preserve (Zander Woods) Шаблон:· Wampum Lake Шаблон:· Wentworth Prairie Шаблон:· Whistler Woods Шаблон:· Woodrow Wilson Woods

Trail Systems Шаблон:· Burnham Greenway (Paved) Шаблон:· Major Taylor (Paved) Шаблон:· Plum Creek (Unpaved) Шаблон:· Thorn Creek (Paved) Шаблон:· Thorn Creek (Unpaved)

See also

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Commonscat

Шаблон:Protected areas of Illinois Шаблон:Cook County, Illinois government Шаблон:Authority control