Forest Preserves of Cook County
Eggers Grove Preserve
Living Habitats led a long-term community engagement effort for Eggers Grove, a 240-acre Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) site located just north of Wolf Lake in the Hegewisch and Eastside neighborhoods of the Calumet Region of Chicago. As part of its Next Century Conservation Plan, the FPCC’s primary goal is to increase usage and local community connections with this unique open space.
In addition to large, picturesque lawn areas and picnic pavilions, the site features a range of interwoven native habitats, including mesic wooded ridges with abundant spring wildflowers, narrow swamps, and hemi-marsh wetlands. This Preserve directly connects to the 11.5-mile Burnham Greenway Trail, which in turn links to the Thorn Creek Trail system, offering access from Eggers Grove to over 30 miles of greenway trails. Another recently added trail spur joins the Burnham Greenway Trail to the Indian Wolf Lake trail system, making for an extensive greenway network that connects the Preserve to regional open spaces. These local assets are not well known nor utilized.
Working with the FPCC, Friends of the Forest Preserves, and other key community partners, Living Habitats articulated and guided the engagement process to build enthusiasm for Eggers Grove and increased awareness of its remarkable outdoor passive recreation opportunities. The engagement process aimed to address community concerns, grow understanding of everything the site and surrounding greenways have to offer, and increase both visitation and participation in FPCC programs and volunteer activities.
The final community engagement report coalesced strategies for the FPCC and partners to use as they continue to expand and deepen relationships with the nearby communities and others throughout Cook County. The report provides approaches for realizing potential site improvements and program updates that reflect the local community’s goals gathered during engagement activities. These engagement events and activities covered a series of focus-group meetings with local stakeholders including neighborhood private and public schools, churches, community organizations, neighbors, and local businesses. By better connecting Eggers Grove with the local community, the FPCC is working to build a long-lasting constituency for the Preserve that will help to protect it beyond the 21st century.
Location:
Chicago, Illinois – East Side and Hegewisch Neighborhoods, Calumet Region
Date:
2022 – 2024
Team:
LIVING HABITATS: Prime Consultant
FRIENDS OF THE FOREST PRESERVES: Survey support and community leader coordination
FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY: Event Lead
