Forest Preserve News

New Dunn Museum Opens Its Doors

After spending more than a year relocating its vast historic collections and building brand-new exhibitions from scratch, the Lake County Forest Preserves announces the opening of the new Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County, in Libertyville. Dedicated to sharing the entwined stories of people, events and nature, the Dunn Museum provides a chronological walk through Lake County’s history from prehistoric times to the present and invites visitors to explore the land where it happened.

The Dunn Museum uses a balance of authentic artifacts, interactive exhibits, reproductions and audiovisual displays. Permanent exhibitions include Prehistoric Lake County, The First People, An American Frontier, Innovations and Preservation and Woodland Theater. A Special Exhibition Gallery will host temporary exhibitions, traveling exhibitions and staff-curated exhibitions on topics touching on art, history and popular culture. Each gallery includes an interactive touch screen that directs visitors to different forest preserves to see firsthand where history took place. Galleries also include fun animations narrated by Bill Kurtis, Chicago’s legendary television journalist, that tell stories about Lake County’s past. Visit the Dunn Museum today.

Rx for Health: Walking in Nature
Join a health professional and an educator on Saturday, April 7 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Hastings Lake for a walk to explore the preserve as we improve our health. We begin gathering at 3:45 p.m. for a prompt departure. Out of respect for all program participants, please leave pets at home. Service animals are permitted. We will walk approximately two miles. This event is free. No registration is required. Adult supervision is required. Meet at the playground parking lot. Additional Rx for Health walks

Rainbow Trout Season Opens April 7
Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda opens for rainbow trout fishing on Saturday, April 7, following the release of trout in Banana Lake. Most of the trout range in size from three-quarters to one pound. The trout stocking is a biannual fall and spring event at the 3.2-acre Banana Lake. Daily creel limit is five. The deepest point in Banana Lake is 25 feet. Learn more

Independence Grove Beach Season Passes 
Get unlimited access to the swimming beach at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, -- including participation in Family Fun Friday games and prizes –– with the purchase of a 2018 beach season pass now on sale to Lake County residents. The pass allows holders unlimited use of the 400-foot sand beach that runs along the South Bay of Independence Grove's 115-acre lake. Purchase yours today!

The state of Lake County is strong. The Lake County Board continues to deliver on its mission of providing exceptional, financially sustainable services that promote a safe, healthy and economically strong Lake County. 

In this State of the County video, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor provides a look back at the progress we are making to advance our strategic goals and looks ahead at the priorities for this year. 

The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is gearing up for a busy road construction season. In 2018, Lake County will have nearly $100 million in road projects under construction, including 30 new projects such as the Quentin Road widening project near Lake Zurich and the intersection improvement and reconstruction of Old McHenry Road in Long Grove. There will also be several resurfacing projects, culvert replacements, signal modernizations, and enhancements to the non-motorized network.

View the Interactive Construction Map to find a project you are interested in and connect to the latest information and important updates.

Work Zone Safety
LCDOT is committed to roadway safety and wants to make this construction season safe for both drivers and workers in work zones. Follow these roadside safety reminders.

Construction of the new courthouse in Waukegan is on track to open this summer. Here are some fun facts about the project.

• Washington Street is expected to close again for a period of time to complete bridge and road work once weather permits. 
• Over 50,000 linear feet of pipe supports have been used in the scaffolding. This equates to almost 10 miles of pipe to build the temporary platform. 
• Since Jan. 1, an average of 110 workers have worked on the site each day, and over 222,000 work hours have been logged since the steel topping out ceremony. 
  

Learn more about the project by visiting www.lakecountycourthouseexpansion.com.

A major tie replacement project between Libertyville and Fox Lake will impact midday and weekend service on Metra’s Milwaukee District North Line during the month of April, including a shutdown of the line north of Lake Forest for three weekends. Learn more

Lake County Public Works is responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of 12 separate water systems in Lake County. What happens when we detect a water main leak or break? Watch this video and learn how our crews work around the clock and in any kind of weather to restore service as quickly as possible for our customers. 

Twelve Lake County students recently competed in the Lake County Final Spelling Bee Competition. Sharanya Pastapur, an eighth-grader at Lake Zurich Middle School North, and Anmol Dash, an eighth-grader at Daniel Wright Jr. High School, were declared co-winners after competing for more than 30 rounds! Both competitors will travel to Washington D.C. to compete in the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. Watch this video to learn more, and view all this year’s Lake County competitors.