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Lake County Forest Preserves
Lake County Forest Preserves. Preservation, Conservation, Restoration and Recreation for Lake County Illinois.
- Ring in the New Year at Museum
Looking for something to do with the kids during holiday break? Come celebrate New Year’s traditions from around the world on Monday, December 29 and Tuesday, December 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Lake County Discovery Museum, near Wauconda. The Ring in the New Year Celebration, for families with children ages three to 12, will include music, games and crafts.
Each day kids will learn how the New Year is celebrated around the world and make their own party favors to take home. After the festivities, families can explore the Museum galleries to learn about local history, explore the world of picture postcards and experience our new Children’s Learning Gallery, an exhibit and play space for kids 10 and under. The Ring in the New Year Celebration is free with Museum admission and no registration is required.For more information about Ring in the New Year Celebration or to download discount admission coupons, visit www.LakeCountyDiscoveryMuseum.org or call 847-968-3400.
- Find current conditions for winter sports on 24-hour hotline
The Lake County Forest Preserves’ winter sports hotline provides current winter sports conditions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 847-968-3235. A recorded message conveys current trail and ice conditions for sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing or ice skating at Lake County Forest Preserve locations.
Sledding
Lighted sled hills are located at Lakewood Forest Preserve (Wauconda) and Old School Forest Preserve (Libertyville). The hill at Lakewood is open until 9 p.m., and the hill at Old School is open until one hour after sunset, when conditions allow sledding. Snowboards, metal runners or toboggans are not permitted.
Cross-country Skiing
Nearly 124 miles of trails are available for cross-country skiers at forest preserves throughout Lake County. Groomed trails are available at the Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve and at Old School Forest Preserve, when conditions allow. Grooming is typically done two days after a large snow. A 4-inch snow base is required for cross-country skiing at the Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods.
Snowmobiling
Nearly 24 miles of Lake County Forest Preserve trails are designated for snowmobiling, with some forest preserve trails tying into other local trail systems.
In an effort to protect wildlife and sensitive natural areas, snowmobile trail routes have been changed at Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve and along the northern section of the Des Plaines River trail (DPR). Snowmobilers should use caution and watch for trail route signs at these two locations, and along all other forest preserve snowmobile trails.
Snowmobilers can ride for eight miles along the DPR trail from Russell Road to just south of Wadsworth Road. Parking and trail access is provided at Van Patten Woods just east of Route 41 at Russell Road and at the Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch.
Snowmobile trails are groomed and patrolled by Lake County Forest Preserve staff and volunteers. A 4-inch snow base is required for snowmobiling.
When conditions allow, snowmobile trails are open from 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6:30 a.m. – midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The following snowmobile trailer parking lots are open extended hours for snowmobilers: Van Patten Woods parking area (on Russell Road east of Route 41 in Wadsworth), Wadsworth Road Canoe Launch parking area (on Wadsworth Road east of Route 41 in Wadsworth), and the Operations Office parking area at Lakewood (on Ivanhoe Road west of Fairfield Road in Wauconda). All other parking lots close at dusk.
Ice Skating
Skating on the lake at Independence Grove Forest Preserve (Libertyville) is available when the ice has frozen to a depth of 4 inches and a sign posted near the gatehouse indicates the area is open. Man-made ice skating rinks are available at Lakewood and Old School Forest Preserves. The shallow man-made rinks typically freeze earlier in the season than natural lakes and ponds.
Ice Fishing
When conditions allow, ice fishing is available at Banana Lake at Lakewood, Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods, and the South Bay at Independence Grove. A 4.5-inch layer of ice is needed for ice fishing. Shanties and shelters must be removed daily, only two poles are allowed, and holes must be drilled six inches or smaller. All other fishing regulations apply. Van Patten Woods offers extended ice fishing hours on weekdays: 6:30 a.m. until one hour after sunset. On Saturdays and Sundays and at locations other than Van Patten Woods, ice fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to sunset.
The Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve is located on Fairfield Road, just south of Route 176, in Wauconda. The entrance to Old School Forest Preserve is located on Saint Mary’s Road, just south of Route 176, in Libertyville. The entrance to Independence Grove is located on Buckley Road, just east of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21), in Libertyville. The entrance to Ryerson Woods is located on Riverwoods Road, north of Deerfield Road and south of Route 22, in Riverwoods. The main entrance to Van Patten Woods is located on Route 173, east of Route 41, in Wadsworth.
- President names key committee appointments
At the Tuesday, December 9 special meeting of the Lake County Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners, newly re-elected President Bonnie Thomson Carter named her committee appointments. All will serve two-year terms that end December 2010.
Stevenson Mountsier was appointed chair of the Finance, Administrative and Revenue Facilities Committee, with David Stolman as vice chair. Committee members are Anne Flanigan Bassi, Steve Carlson, Angelo Kyle, Ann Maine and Audrey Nixon.
Ann B. Maine was appointed chair of the Land Preservation and Acquisition Committee, with Diana O’Kelly as vice chair. Committee members are Melinda Bush, Stevenson Mountsier, Suzi Schmidt, Michael Talbett and Terry Wilke.
Carol Calabresa was appointed chair of the Planning and Restoration Committee, with Linda Pedersen as vice chair. Committee members are Pat Carey, Steve Carlson, Mary Ross Cunningham, Michelle Feldman and Susan Loving Gravenhorst.
Susan Loving Gravenhorst was appointed chair of the Education, Cultural Resources and Public Affairs Committee, with Michael Talbett as vice chair. Committee members are Mary Ross Cunningham, Diane Hewitt, Pamela O. Newton, Audrey Nixon and Bob Sabonjian.
Pamela O. Newton was appointed as chair of the Legislative Committee, with Michelle Feldman as vice chair. Committee members include Carol Calabresa, Brent Paxton and Linda Pedersen.
Steve Carlson was appointed as chair of the Rules Committee, with Mary Ross Cunningham as vice chair. Committee members include Susan Loving Gravenhorst, Angelo Kyle, Stevenson Mountsier, David Stolman and Terry Wilke.
Members of the Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee include Mary Ross Cunningham, Angelo Kyle, and Audrey Nixon.
Other key appointments include Anne Flanigan Bassi as Treasurer and Steve Carlson as Assistant Treasurer. The liaisons to the Friends of Ryerson Woods are Ann B. Maine and Susan Loving Gravenhorst. Other liaisons include Michael Talbett to the Friends of the Lake County Discovery Museum and Anne Flanigan Bassi to the Youth Conservation Corps.
Re-appointments include Bonnie Thomson Carter as the board representative to the Illinois Association of Conservation and Forest Preserve Districts, and Pamela O. Newton as the board representative to the Illinois Association of Park Districts.
On December 1, Forest Preserve Commissioners re-elected Bonnie Thomson Carter of Ingleside to a fourth consecutive term as president, and elected Carol Calabresa of Libertyville to serve as vice president.
- Lake County Forest Preserve President re-elected
At a special meeting on Monday, December 1, the Lake County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners elected their new President and Vice President. Bonnie Thomson Carter of Ingleside was re-elected President, and Carol