Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Forest Preserve District of Cook County 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful in Cook County, IL. Don’t you sometimes just want to escape?

Explore the natural beauty of Cook County for an hour, a day or even a night. When you’re surrounded by 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful, there’s no better place to feel free. This page has been created for the Forest Preserves of Cook County and its visitors to share news, ideas and events. We welcome your engagement and feedback, but comments posted by a member of the public are the opinion of the poster only, and do not necessarily imply endorsement of or reflect the opinions or policies of the Forest Preserves. Comments containing any of the following content will not be permitted and are subject to removal and/or restriction at any time and without prior notice:
- Obscene, sexual or pornographic content and/or language
- Content that promotes discrimination by the government on the basis of race, age, religion, gender or other protected class
- Private, personal information published without consent
- True threats to any person
- Conduct that violates any federal, state, or local law or encourages illegal activity
- Spam, commercial promotions or links to malware or viruses
- Actual defamation

The Forest Preserves reserves the right to deny access to our social media sites for any individual who repeatedly violates the Forest Preserves social media policy, at any time and without prior notice. All comments posted to any Forest Preserves social site are bound by the social media platform’s terms of use or code of conduct. Users who enter private or personal information do so at their own risk, and the Forest Preserves is not responsible for any damages resulting from the public display of, or failure to remove, private or personal information. Content posted on the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s social media sites may be subject to disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and retention under the Local Records Act. This policy and terms of use may be amended from time-to-time, without further notice.

09/14/2026

September things: Cooler temps. Migrating birds. Party for the Preserves!

Our annual celebration of all-things-nature returns September 26-27 with seven unique events across Cook County.

Spend the last weekend of the month enjoying the outdoors with live music, dancing, canoeing, hiking and more! It's Cook County's biggest celebration of National Public Lands Day, and everyone is invited.

Find an event near you and sign up to join the fun!

Full details at fpdcc.com/party

🌾🍂 Fall color isn’t only found in the treetops. Across the Forest Preserves, prairies are putting on a seasonal display ...
09/14/2026

🌾🍂 Fall color isn’t only found in the treetops.

Across the Forest Preserves, prairies are putting on a seasonal display of their own. Asters, goldenrods, blazing stars and gentians bloom into early autumn, while grasses and other plants begin their transformation toward winter.

Some prairie dropseed even brings a surprise for another sense: flowers that can smell like popcorn.

Discover what’s blooming, why fall is such a rewarding time to visit a prairie and where you can experience these landscapes across Cook County.

Read full story:

When autumn color arrives in Cook County, there is a tendency to look up. But beyond the changing canopy, another fall show is unfolding. Across […]

🌱 Five weeks, 84 young people & thousands of hours spent learning, leading and caring for the land. The Forest Preserves...
09/08/2026

🌱 Five weeks, 84 young people & thousands of hours spent learning, leading and caring for the land.

The Forest Preserves Experience celebrated its 11th graduating class after a summer spent restoring native habitats, building job skills and discovering where a passion for conservation can lead. For former participant Luis Cabrales, that first summer outdoors helped launch a career in environmental education.

Meet this year’s graduates and see how a summer in the Preserves can shape what comes next:

For 84 young people, this summer was about much more than earning a paycheck. It was about restoring native habitats, discovering new career possibilities and […]

🥾🚲🛶 Every trail, waterway and open space offers a different way to experience the Forest Preserves. Hike beneath the tre...
09/06/2026

🥾🚲🛶 Every trail, waterway and open space offers a different way to experience the Forest Preserves.

Hike beneath the trees, pedal miles of trails, paddle across the water or try something completely new at a free program or event. Across more than 70,000 acres, there are countless ways to move through nature and experience familiar places from a different perspective.

How will you move through the Preserves?

Learn more:

Adaptive Cycling – Provider Training Wed, September 9 • 9:00 am Busse Lake Boating Center • Cook County, IL 60007 (near Elk Grove Village) A hands-on, skills-based session that equips local providers with the tools, techniques, and confidence to safely deliver inclusive cycling experiences for...

📷: American Goldfinch by Brian Bochenek  📍: Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, September 2020   The bright yellow pl...
09/05/2026

📷: American Goldfinch by Brian Bochenek
📍: Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, September 2020

The bright yellow plumage of the American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) makes it easy to spot in meadows and prairies. Unlike many songbirds, they nest late in the season, timed to the ripening of thistle seeds.

Looking for some fun ways to enjoy the season? Join us for two upcoming community events:🎪 Faire at the SquareThursday, ...
09/04/2026

Looking for some fun ways to enjoy the season? Join us for two upcoming community events:

🎪 Faire at the Square
Thursday, September 10 | 4–7 p.m.
📍 Cummings Square, River Forest
Enjoy a creative-reuse carnival featuring games, prizes and activities inspired by nature!

🍁 Fall Nature Fest
Saturday, September 12 | Noon–3 p.m.
📍 LaBagh Woods
Celebrate the season with nature activities, animal ambassadors, games, exhibitors and more!

Both events are free and open to all ages. Bring your family and friends and make a weekend of it! 💚

Learn more and plan your visit: fpdcc.com/events

The Forest Preserves of Cook County and Teamsters Local 700 reached a contract agreement yesterday that addresses issues...
09/03/2026

The Forest Preserves of Cook County and Teamsters Local 700 reached a contract agreement yesterday that addresses issues raised by the union while allowing the Forest Preserves to remain on a sustainable fiscal path.

The Forest Preserves remained fully open and operational throughout the 16-day strike and welcomes the Local 700 members returning to work today.

Read more: https://fpdcc.com/forest-preserves-of-cook-county-reaches-agreement-with-teamsters-local-700/

Happy  ! In honor of National Public Lands Day later this month, we’re celebrating the natural lands that make Cook Coun...
09/03/2026

Happy !

In honor of National Public Lands Day later this month, we’re celebrating the natural lands that make Cook County a healthier, more resilient place to live.

With more than 70,000 acres, the Forest Preserves of Cook County provides countless benefits to people, plants and wildlife.

Here are just five ways these public lands help us all:

💧 Cleaner water: Natural lands help keep our water cleaner while saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year through stormwater abatement.

🧠 Healthier minds and bodies: Spending time in nature can lower blood pressure, increase brain activity, support mental and physical well-being, and even improve sleep quality.

🌎 A climate solution: The Forest Preserves plays an essential role in the region’s capacity to mitigate climate change.

🦋 A home for wildlife: Thousands of plants and animals live and thrive in the Forest Preserves—including some species found only here in Cook County.

🌱 Learning for the next generation: Kids and young adults have countless opportunities to learn about nature and help care for the natural world.

Want to learn more about the Forest Preserves and the places we protect? Visit fpdcc.com.

🐢 What does a turtle’s shell feel like? Why do birds sing at sunrise? What happens to a prairie after a fire? Some lesso...
09/01/2026

🐢 What does a turtle’s shell feel like? Why do birds sing at sunrise? What happens to a prairie after a fire?

Some lessons are better experienced with muddy shoes and curious minds. Forest Preserves field trips, hands-on programs and free educational resources help students explore wildlife, habitats, local history and more while turning the natural world into a classroom.

Bring learning to life in the Forest Preserves:

Thousands of plants and animals—including over one hundred threatened and endangered species—depend on the natural areas in the Forest Preserves of Cook County. On this […]

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536 N Harlem Avenue
River Forest, IL
60305

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