Dupage Policy Journal

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has initiated a confidential survey to gather insights from residents about community needs and preferences. This effort aims to better understand the issues that are important to residents in order to enhance the services provided by the District.

Serving nearly 1 million county residents, the Forest Preserve District values the input of its constituents, whether they frequently visit the forest preserves or have yet to explore them. All opinions will be considered equally to determine how best to serve DuPage County.

The survey, which takes less than 15 minutes to complete, includes both rating and open-ended questions covering various topics such as amenities, infrastructure, conservation efforts, educational programming, accessibility, inclusivity, and communication methods. It also seeks residents' views on the Forest Preserve District’s tax levy, potential revenue streams, and land acquisition opportunities.

Approximately 900 randomly selected households will soon receive either a paper survey or an online link. By late October, the survey will be available on the District’s website at dupageforest.org for all interested individuals.

“We encourage all residents to take a few minutes to help guide the future of our forest preserves,” said Jessica Ortega, manager of Strategic Plans & Initiatives. “We regularly conduct public outreach when planning forest preserve projects, and the feedback is always instrumental in shaping the District's priorities.”

For over 100 years, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people with nature. Annually more than 5.5 million people visit its 60 forest preserves featuring 166 miles of trails and seven education centers. For additional information or inquiries, call 630-933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org where links are available for their e-newsletter and social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.