Nature Bulletin No. 109   March 29, 1947
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
William N. Erickson, President
Roberts Mann, Supt. of Conservation

****:THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT

Forest Preserve Districts, in Illinois, are separate municipal bodies 
governed by a Board of Forest Preserve Commissioners consisting of 
the elected county commissioners, as in Cook County, or by a 
committee of the county board of supervisors, as in 7 other counties. 
The legislative act which provided for such a district, if authorized by 
referendum vote of the people, became a law on July 1, 1914.

Under that act, the commissioners are empowered to levy taxes, issue 
bonds, and to acquire lands containing forests "for the purpose of 
protecting and preserving the flora, fauna and scenic beauties.... and to 
restore, restock, protect and preserve the natural forests and said lands 
with their flora and fauna, as nearly as may be in their natural state and 
condition for the purpose of the education, pleasure and recreation of 
the public".   A limit of 35,000 acres was set; later increased to 39,000.

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County was organized in 1915. Its 
holdings now exceed 36,800 acres distributed over the entire county 
along the major streams and including 10,000 acres in the Palos hills, 
plus several isolated tracts of from 1300 to 1700 acres each.  Eighty 
percent is wild land; 60% is forested.

Until 1929, when a general plan and policy recommended by an 
Advisory Committee for future acquisitions and developments was 
adopted, the District was largely concerned with land purchases. From 
1929 to 1942, acquisition continued but the major activity, aided by 
CCC, CWA and WPA, consisted of construction to protect the holdings 
against fire and automobiles, and to provide adequate recreational 
facilities.

Along the highway borders, 165 picnic centers have been provided and 
picnicking is by far the major form of outdoor recreation in this county 
of 4,250,000 people. The interiors are accessible only by walking and 
175 miles of trails were built to serve hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. 
The district also operates 4 golf courses, three outdoor swimming pools 
and four winter sports centers. About 15 million persons visit the 
preserves annually but the interiors are wild and support all forms of 
native wildlife in amazing abundance. Our problem is to improve the 
quality of public use.

We must educate the people to enjoy and protect their own property.