Forest preserves may contain nature centers and other facilities, picnic groves, and hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, but, apart from public golf courses, do not typically contain land set aside for other sports activities.
In 1913, Illinois adopted the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act[3] that was signed by the governor and survived legal challenge.
In addition, the District's Red Gate Woods was the war-time home of the Manhattan Project's first nuclear facility.
Monitoring may include counting population numbers and tracking the presence of animals across the district and assessing habitat needs for rare species.
[12] The District's oldest nature center is in a preserved rural one-room schoolhouse built in 1886 and is located in the Palos Division.
After review, the IDA determined that within the context of its substantial urban setting, the preserve's "planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light.
"[14] There are thirteen trail systems within the Forest Preserve District: Poplar Creek Division Includes: Spring Lake Preserve, Crabtree Preserve, Arthur L. Janura Preserve Activity Areas · Barrington Road Pond · Beverly Lake · Bluff Springs Fen · Bode East · Bode Lake · Crabtree Nature Center · Great Egret Family Picnic Area · Old Stover Trailhead · Penny Road Pond · Poplar Creek Bicycle Lot · Poplar Creek Equestrian Parking · Poplar Creek Model Airplane Flying Field · Shoe Factory Road Woods · Spring Creek Valley Headwaters · Spring Lake Nature Preserve Trail Systems · Crabtree Preserve (Paved) · Poplar Creek (Paved) · Poplar Creek (Unpaved) · Spring Lake (Unpaved) Northwest Division Includes: Deer Grove Preserve, Jens Jensen Preserve, Paul Douglas Preserve, Ned Brown Preserve Activity Areas · Baker's Lake Overlook · Baker's Lake Younghusband Prairie · Busse Forest-Central · Busse Forest-North · Busse Forest-South · Busse Forest-West · Busse Forest Elk Pasture · Busse Forest Main Dam · Busse Lake Beisner Road Access · Busse Lake Boating Center · Camp Alphonse · Camp Reinberg · Deer Grove · Deer Grove-East · Deer Grove-West · Deer Grove Lake · Grassy Ridge Meadow · Highland Woods Driving Range · Highland Woods Golf Course · Ned Brown Meadow · Woodland Meadow Trail Systems · Busse Forest (Paved) · Deer Grove (Paved) · Deer Grove (Unpaved) · Paul Douglas (Paved) Indian Boundary Division, Des Plaines Division Includes: Seymour Simon Preserve Activity Areas · Allison Woods · Axehead Lake · Beck Lake · Belleau Lake · Big Bend Lake · Blandings Grove Family Picnic Area · Blue Beach Family Picnic Area · Camp Baden Powell · Camp Dan Beard · Camp Ground Road Woods · Camp Pine Woods · Catherine Chevalier Woods · Che-Che-Pin-Qua Woods · Chippewa Woods · Dam No.