Listen to the commentary
Real Audio : MP3 download
How do you make a well-loved forest preserve even
better?
One way is to develop it. Toward that end, the
Champaign County Forest Preserve District recently completed installation of
what’s called a “natural playscape” at Homer Lake. The playscape differs from a
typical playground in that it uses natural materials—plants, boulders, logs,
and earth mounds—rather than plastic and metal. It also includes an already
popular, stream-like water feature.
The playscape is located near the Walnut Hill Shelter,
and it’s open all year long, although the water feature is shut off for the
winter to prevent damage to the plumbing. Forest Preserve staff are quick to
point out that pathways to and around the playscape are ADA accessible, which
is a great benefit to children, parents, or grandparents with physical
disabilities.[Photo of children enjoying water feature of playscape by Pam Leiter, CCFPD.]
Aside from adding features to a forest preserve,
another way to make it better is to make it bigger, and there’s also a project in
the works for that at Homer Lake. The Forest Preserve District is currently
pursuing an opportunity to expand the preserve by purchasing a nearby tract of
land known as Sylvester Woods.
At just over five acres, Sylvester Woods may
strike people as a small addition, since the Homer Lake Preserve already encompasses
more than 800 acres.
But in this case quality really counts.
According to Dan Olson, who was recently named
executive director of the Forest Preserve District, Sylvester Woods stands apart
from other local natural areas because of its ecological integrity.
The Sylvester family has held the property since
the original apportionment of the area by the federal government, and they used
it only for low impact recreation. They fished in the Salt Fork River, which runs
through it, and had family get-togethers there, but not much else.
Sylvester Woods was never clear-cut or row cropped or even, as far as anyone knows, grazed. A cabin is thought to have once been built on the site, but little evidence of that remains. As a result, the forest there is characterized by some majestic trees, with chinkapin oaks dominating on one side of the river, and black walnuts on the other. In addition, says Olson, the forest understory of Sylvester Woods is incredibly diverse. A survey of plants conducted there identified no fewer than 86 species, including some wildflowers not found at any of the District’s other preserves.
One important use Olson sees for the property is
to serve as a nursery where uncommon native plants can be propagated for
ecological restoration work at other sites. He also sees Sylvester Woods as
providing a unique experience for people who recreate there. The property is
separated by private land from the rest of the Homer Lake preserve, and it’s not
really big enough for developments like shelters or restrooms. Visitors who
drive there will need to park on the side of the road, and explore without the
benefit of trails. Those who take the trouble to do so will be rewarded with a
glimpse of Illinois forest as few have known it for more than a hundred years.
In order for this vision to become a reality,
however, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District still has some money to
raise. If you can help out with a donation, please give them a call at (217)
586-3360, or visit them on the Web at http://ccfpd.org.
