5/22/24
Today, our guest speaker was Dan Hebreard, President-Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
His presentation dealt with the District's 2019 Master Plan.
- The need for a master plan: The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is made up of 26,000 acres (about 13% of the county’s land area), which contain 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, 31 lakes and ponds, 47 miles of rivers and streams, six nature and cultural centers, 931 types of native plants, and 456 types of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Each year 4 million people visit the preserves to hike, bike, picnic, fish, boat, camp, golf, and attend naturalist- and ranger-led programs. The Plan identified key priorities (including 32 "Certified Projects") to guide the District over the next five years: protect and restore natural resources; provide and improve nature experiences and outdoor recreation; maintain and improve trails; and invest in existing mission-aligned facilities.
- His presentation highlighted the nearby
- Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
- St. James Farm Forest Preserve
- Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, and
- Willowbrook Wildlife Center (the soon to be reopened)
- For information about the Master Plan and all the Certified Projects, visit the District website: https://www.dupageforest.org/what-we-do/projects