Tawny Oaks Field Station at Singing Woods Nature Preserve

05/01/2026

Opening day is almost here!

Our building will be open starting on May 6th through August 1st, every Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

Our trails are open every day of the year from dawn to dusk.

04/06/2026

🌿 Talk About It Tuesday is back! 🌿

Join the Peoria Park District as we dive into Nature & Outdoor Recreation this month!

📍 Forest Park Nature Center
📅 April 7
⏰ 5:30 PM

Let’s talk about outdoor recreation opportunities, natural spaces, and programming across the District—and how we can continue to grow together!

✨ Connect with the Board of Trustees
✨ Share your ideas and feedback
✨ Learn more about your parks and programs
✨ PLUS: One lucky attendee will win a Forest Park Nature Center membership!

Can’t make it in person? We still want to hear from you—share your feedback online!
Curious about future topics? Check out the full Talk About It Tuesday schedule!
PeoriaParks.org/event/talk-about-it-tuesday

Your voice matters—come be part of the conversation. 💬🌳

03/13/2026

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory through 4pm on Friday. Hiking in wooded areas is very dangerous under these conditions. Please choose a different day for your Singing Woods adventure.
In the coming days, if you come across any trees down on the trail, you can report them by messaging us on Facebook.
Stay safe everyone!

A deep low will move across the Great Lakes today. Strong south winds will occur ahead of the system today and then veer to the northwest this evening. Winds will gust to around 35-50 mph at times. A Wind Advisory is in effect until 4pm.

03/11/2026

We have completed the bingo card of weather this week at Singing Woods. On Tuesday we hit the 80 degree mark, and on Wednesday morning it is snowing. Come out for a hike this week and you can experience all of the seasons!

02/17/2026

Our trails are back open now!

It is normal to still see some smoke in the burn unit interior as some larger logs will be smoldering. Please stay on the trail for your safety.

02/17/2026

Thank you to all of our staff and volunteers who made today’s prescribed burn possible!

Please note: the trail system will be closed on Tuesday, 2/17 as our team assesses the safety of the trails post burn and works to correct any issues. We will post notice here when everything reopens.

02/16/2026

The team will be moving forward with this controlled burn this morning. Please note the trails will be closed in Tawny Oaks and Singing Woods. Also, the public will not be allowed in this area during the burn.

02/13/2026

🔥 Prescribed Burn at Tawny Oaks – Monday, February 16 🌾

Land stewardship is an active, intentional practice — and sometimes that means working with fire.

Our next prescribed burn at Tawny Oaks Field Station will take place Monday, February 16, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

🌳 Burn Area: Approximately 35 acres in Singing Woods
🔥 Ignition is expected to begin around 11:00 a.m.

Prescribed fire is a vital ecological tool that helps restore native habitats, reduce invasive species, recycle nutrients back into the soil, and strengthen the health and resilience of our woodland and prairie ecosystems. When applied thoughtfully and safely, fire renews the landscape and supports biodiversity for years to come.

If you see smoke in the area, know that it’s part of a carefully planned and managed restoration effort. Thank you for supporting the ongoing care of this special place.

02/05/2026

Many thanks to the IL Dept. of Natural Resources Division of Forestry for facilitating a wildland fire field training day at Tawny Oaks. Around 20 trainees from the Peoria Park District, IL Dept. of Natural Resources, area fire departments, Pheasants Forever, and other IL Park Districts completed their certification.

The Peoria Park District needs volunteers to help during our prescribed burns, as well as other ecological restoration work. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit: www.peoriaparks.org/volunteer

11/19/2025

Attention hikers: The Sycamore Trail (yellow) will be closed starting November 19th through December 15th.

The closure is a precautionary measure for hiker safety during the IL firearm and muzzleloader deer hunting seasons. While hunting is NOT allowed within the preserve, neighboring property owners do hunt on their land. Since this trail goes very close to the property line, it will be closed throughout the time frame.

11/06/2025

Thank you to the students and teachers from Dunlap Middle School who came out to collect seeds with us in the prairie last week. We had 150 enthusiastic kids here over the course of three days, and they were able to both harvest and process the seeds. We hope that this service learning partnership can continue in future years… and we appreciate the fan mail!