Dupage Policy Journal

Several popular outdoor activities will return to the DuPage forest preserves starting the first weekend in May. Nature enthusiasts can spend a night under the stars at the Forest Preserve District’s 64-site Blackwell Family Campground, which will operate Friday and Saturday nights from May 5 through Columbus Day weekend, with added nights around holidays. Campers can purchase permits online using a desktop computer 24/7 up to a year in advance but must make reservations at least three business days in advance. For additional nights around the holidays, campers should call or stop by the District’s Visitor Services office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 630-933-7248 or visit 3S580 Naperville Road in Wheaton.

The campground offers wooded and semi-wooded sites for tents, trailers, and motor homes. Each site includes electricity, a gravel parking pad, fire ring, and picnic table. Rates are $20 per night for DuPage residents or $30 per night for nonresidents if booked in advance through Visitor Services. Sites accommodate up to eight people, two tents, and one vehicle. The campground provides restrooms, showers, hand water pumps, a water-fill station, and an RV dump station. Outside firewood is prohibited; firewood is available for $7 per bundle. A collaborative program with DuPage County allows campers to dispose of empty 16-ounce propane tanks on-site.

Outdoor aficionados can also enjoy views of DuPage County and the Chicago skyline from 190 feet above ground at Greene Valley's scenic overlook in Naperville. Open weather permitting on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 6 through Oct. 29 (subject to Illinois Environmental Protection Agency maintenance), admission is free. Visitors can park at the summit and are encouraged to bring spotting scopes or binoculars for bird watching.

Adventure seekers can explore Blackwell in Warrenville by renting canoes, kayaks, rowboats, or paddleboats from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from May 6 through Sept. 30 and weekdays between Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends also mark the start of weekend rentals at Herrick Lake in Wheaton where rowboats and single kayaks are $15 per hour while canoes and two-person kayaks are $18 per hour; paddleboats at Blackwell cost $20 per hour with rentals ending at 5 p.m.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than a century with over five million annual visitors across its facilities including trails spanning 166 miles along seven education centers among other offerings such as numerous programs available each year detailed further via contacting them directly at 630-933-7200 alongside their website dupageforest.org where additional links exist towards engaging digitally across platforms like Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok pages."

"We strive to connect all people to nature," stated officials adding that they remain committed towards promoting diversity equity inclusion belonging within their operations maintaining facilities programming events free discrimination harassment environments throughout their reach."