![]() ![]() The analysis for this preserve will evaluate recreational amenities while exploring opportunities for the addition of new amenities and habitat improvements. The preserve includes 12 miles of marked trails, picnic shelters, an off-leash dog area, a model craft area, and youth-group campground. Key elements that will be investigated include identifying potential improvements to vehicular circulation and pedestrian connections considering upgrades to ADA accommodations and other support infrastructure modifying boat launch facilities and evaluating separate access to the family campground.Ĭontaining 1,388 acres in Naperville, Greene Valley is one of the District’s most botanically diverse sites and is home to an iconic red barn. The preserve is also home to the district’s only family campground, in addition to a youth-group campground. Located in Warrenville, Blackwell spans 1,366 acres and offers visitors trails, fishing, picnicking, boating, and an off-leash dog area. Each study will consider the unique features, landscape typologies, land uses, access, circulation, and diverse user needs within the three forest preserves to ultimately inform the master plans. Over the coming months, the District and Stantec will be facilitating a series of stakeholder meetings in order to gather ideas, opinions, and comments regarding future improvements, which will be considered and evaluated as part of the analysis of the preserves. Work will also involve market and property analysis, which is underway and will continue through summer. The project has launched with extensive data collection and visits to each preserve. Key priorities of that plan are to protect and restore natural resources provide and improve nature experiences and outdoor recreation maintain and improve trails and invest in existing mission-aligned facilities. The plans will also build on the overarching guidance provided by the district-wide Master Plan prepared in 2019. The focus of the master plans will be to identify capital improvements that can be implemented over time as funding is available. ![]() The analysis will be used to update master plans for each property that will consider existing conditions, natural resources, and visitor needs to create a framework for the management and upkeep of these popular amenities. The number of visitors to the preserves has increased dramatically over the past year as more people have sought time outdoors during the pandemic for safe exercise and recreational activities. Encompassing more than 5,500 acres, the preserves are among the most popular and most visited destinations for hiking, running, biking, fishing, boating, camping, archery, and a variety of other outdoor activities in Chicago’s western suburbs. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has selected leading global planning and design firm Stantec to assist district staff in the analysis of Blackwell, Greene Valley, and Waterfall Glen forest preserves.
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