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.

In honor of  , join us for we're hosting Pride-themed events all month long. Join us as we commemorate, celebrate, and c...
06/23/2026

In honor of , join us for we're hosting Pride-themed events all month long. Join us as we commemorate, celebrate, and create cherished moments in the Preserves!

Let's unite in solidarity to uplift our friends, family, and community. 🏳️‍🌈

For more information of our Pride events, visit fpdcc.com/events/tag/pride-month.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 13th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee at Sand Ridge Nature Center & Campus! ❤️💚🖤 Th...
06/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 13th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee at Sand Ridge Nature Center & Campus! ❤️💚🖤

The day was full of fun and learning as we celebrated freedom, history, culture and community through art, storytelling, genealogy, education and meaningful connections. A cake-cutting ceremony offered a moving performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and powerful remarks from Cook County Board & Forest Preserves President Toni Preckwinkle, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill.

✨Light of Loving Kindness
✨ Midwest Underground Railroad Network
✨ Greg's Ceramics
✨ Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago (AAGHSC)
✨ Mama Edie, Bilingual Storyteller
✨ A Child's Vision
✨Together for Nature / Juntos para la Naturaleza IL
✨ Solidarity Studios
✨ South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society - Illinois
✨ Beto de Freitas Photography

And our vendors:

✨ Mag's Legacy Cakes and More
✨ Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods LLC 2025
✨Nicole Jordan Catering, LLC


Together, we honored the past, celebrated the present, and inspired a brighter future.

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the 13th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee at Sand Ridge Nature Center & Campu...
06/21/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the 13th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee at Sand Ridge Nature Center & Campus! ❤️💚🖤

The day was full of fun and learning as we celebrated freedom, history, culture and community through art, storytelling, genealogy, education and meaningful connections. A cake-cutting ceremony offered a moving performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and powerful remarks from Cook County Board & Forest Preserves President Toni Preckwinkle, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha E. McCaskill - 5th District.

✨Light of Loving Kindness
✨ Midwest Underground Railroad Network
✨ Greg's Ceramics
✨ Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society of Chicago (AAGHSC) (AAGHSC)
✨ Mama Edie, Bilingual Storyteller
✨ A Child's Vision
✨Together for Nature / Juntos para la Naturaleza IL
✨ Solidarity Studios
✨ South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society - Illinois
✨ Beto de Freitas Photography

And our vendors:

✨ Mag's Legacy Cakes and More
✨ Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods LLC 2025
✨ Nicole Jordan Catering, LLC

Together, we honored the past, celebrated the present, and inspired a brighter future.

America turns 250, but the stories protected in the Forest Preserves stretch back more than 10,000 years. Ancient artifa...
06/17/2026

America turns 250, but the stories protected in the Forest Preserves stretch back more than 10,000 years.

Ancient artifacts, Native American history and landscapes that have witnessed centuries of change offer a powerful reminder that some of our nation’s most important stories are preserved in nature.

Discover the history beneath your feet at fpdcc.com/250-years-of-america-thousands-of-years-of-stories/

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, it is worth remembering that some of the most remarkable pieces of American history are not preserved […]

Community Engagement - partnerships through events and programmingThe afternoon of June 6 at Blackhawk Park in Belmont-C...
06/16/2026

Community Engagement - partnerships through events and programming

The afternoon of June 6 at Blackhawk Park in Belmont-Cragin was filled with community connections, learning, and fun! Forest Preserves staff participated in the Dia del Niño Celebration by joining with community partners to engage visitors through hands-on activities including arts and crafts, music, plant giveaways, macroinvertebrate studies, and up-close animal encounters.

Nature is an outdoor classroom for all, and the Forest Preserve loved sharing opportunities for discovery, curiosity, and connection with the community.

Thank you to the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation for the invite, The Outreach Team from the Forest Preserves' Conservation & Experiential Programming (CEP) department for organizing the Forest Preserves’ participation, our partners Neighbor-Space, University of Illinois Extension: Cook County and Chicago Region Trees Initiative for joining us, and to everyone who stopped by and explored with us!

For information on event and programming partnerships with the Forest Preserves, visit:

https://fpdcc.com/about/doing-business-partnerships/programming-partnerships/

What should visitors expect from A Child's Vision at Juneteenth Jubilee? At this year's Juneteenth Jubilee, experience A...
06/15/2026

What should visitors expect from A Child's Vision at Juneteenth Jubilee?

At this year's Juneteenth Jubilee, experience A Child's Vision— an inspiring exhibit featuring Black liberation artwork, alongside photography that captures moments of community, creativity and hope.

Curator Aisha Huisar says, "For me, Juneteenth should be a moment for African Americans—and all who choose to celebrate—a time to pause, rest and reflect. Reflect on where we've been and think about how we can really move forward and make positive change in the future."

Through vibrant colors, powerful imagery and personal stories, the exhibit invites visitors to reflect on the past while imagining the possibilities ahead. Take a moment to explore the art, connect with the stories behind it and be inspired by the creativity, vision and optimism of the next generation.

Join us June 20 at Sand Ridge Nature Center for a day of culture, community and celebration.

🐕🐎Four legs, endless adventures. Whether your dog loves zooming through off leash areas or you enjoy exploring scenic eq...
06/13/2026

🐕🐎Four legs, endless adventures.

Whether your dog loves zooming through off leash areas or you enjoy exploring scenic equestrian trails, now is the time to secure your permit.

Dog park memberships and 2026–2027 equestrian licenses are available, unlocking even more ways to enjoy the Forest Preserves together.

Learn more:

Secure permits for picnics, camping reservations, indoor events and other activities in the Forest Preserves.

06/13/2026

Checking In: The storms on Wednesday and Thursday were a "1-2 punch that really did some damage" according to our Department of Resource Management. If you're planning to visit the Preserves in southwest Cook County, check the Forest Preserves website for updates.

Address

536 N Harlem Avenue
River Forest, IL
60305

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