By Kim Piekos
As you walk along the gravel path in Lake Forest’s 168-year-old Forest Park, absorbing the beauty of Lake Michigan and the beach below, take note: this didn’t happen by accident. This property has been stewarded by a committed group of Lake Forest residents since its creation, and that care continues today.
Recently, Forest Park Conservancy, formerly known as Forest Park Preservation Board, launched a website, www.forestpark1856.org, and a quarterly newsletter to keep residents aware of the unique history of the city’s first park, developments, ecological news and seasonal events. The Conservancy ensures the preservation and enhancement of Forest Park.
“This town has always been blessed with talented landscape architects and dedicated residents who strive to preserve and maintain its natural spaces,” says Tom Donovan of Forest Park Conservancy.
“I think what’s unique about Lake Forest is that we’ve got gems like Forest Park that blend into the community,” said Conservancy Board President Tom Donovan. “It’s important that, as a community, we appreciate the history and efforts made over time to plan, maintain and refine these beautiful parks.”
Located at the corner of Deerpath and Lake Roads, Forest Park was designated as a site for a public park in the 1856 original plan of Lake Forest by Almerin Hotchkiss. In 1892, Chicago’s first golf course was laid out on the grounds of Fairlawn, the Charles B. Farwell estate, roughly opposite Forest Park. Tomato cans sunk in the ground provided seven holes of play, with nearby Lake Michigan offering a significant hazard.
Four years later, Ossian Cole Simonds developed a site plan for Forest Park including an unpaved carriage way for horse-drawn buggies with extensive views of the lake, walking paths across the park and down to the beach, remnants of the pre-settlement oak woodland and savanna and the use of native plants.
The fall colors at Forest Park are a pleasure to behold.
“From the beginnings of our town, plans were set in place integrating with and respecting the natural landscape,” Donovan said.
But during certain decades, Forest Park was neglected, which contributed to the deterioration of its once-beautiful landscape. Views of the lake were blocked by overgrown vegetation and invasive, non-native trees. Shrub beds had become lawn, and the 1896 carriage way grew into a wide asphalt road, paved to accommodate vehicles, as well as residents out for a stroll or bike ride, creating safety issues. Water runoff became an issue.
In 2008, at the urging of the City of Lake Forest, the Forest Park Project Board was created to guide the rehabilitation of the park, honoring the tenets of the Simonds plan. There ensued a unique public-private collaboration that has lasted more than a decade. Landscape and natural area management plans were designed by Stephen Stimson and P. Clifford Miller to restore degraded natural areas and introduce sustainable technologies throughout the site.
Their work was impactful. Diverse native plantings were introduced to reduce turf. Over 150 trees were planted.
“This town has always been blessed with talented landscape architects and dedicated residents who strive to preserve and maintain its natural spaces,” Donovan said. “How fortunate we are.”
Donovan is pleased that the conservancy’s public-private partnership with the City of Lake Forest is now being emulated by other organizations. “The standards we have set up for the park are now being picked up for use by other local parks,” he said. “This combination of public tax dollars with private donations can work quite effectively when people are invested in their community.”
Forest Park Conservancy will celebrate its 10-year anniversary next September with a dinner in the park.
Donovan got involved with the Preservation Board at the recommendation of friend and former Board President Joan DePree. He credits the leadership of DePree, Jane O’Neil and their original Forest Park Project Board with the vision to create the spectacular vistas enjoyed in Forest Park today.
The conservancy chooses certain projects to support each year, while partnering with the city to maintain the park. Most recently, efforts were focused on restoring native beds at the south end of the park, simplifying some of the species planted, and removing invasive buckthorn and grasses.
“You’re seeing active revitalization at work in the park,” Donovan explained. “The idea is to welcome more people to spend time enjoying the park and its accessible ADA-friendly trails.”
Donovan said that heritage trees dating back 200 years add to the uniqueness of the park.
“As a town, we cherish those old-line trees and are in the process of creating a plan to replace those trees that have been lost to disease over the last decade,” he explained.
The conservancy hopes to offer seasonal walks with Board Member Cliff Miller, who Donovan calls a “savant in native landscapes.” Miller was recently involved in the tree and planting selections around the new boardwalk as well. Donovan believes the new boardwalk will increase accessibility from the top of the bluff down to the lake. “It was important to us to make a sizable commitment on behalf of the Board and Conservancy to the City to support their efforts to tie the tableland through the bluff down to the beach,” he explained.
Forest Park Conservancy will celebrate its 10-year anniversary next September with a dinner in the park.
“Our hope is that people take advantage of this beautiful open space year-round,” said Donovan. “From enjoying a walk with a friend to watching the change of season from this extraordinary vantage point, Forest Park is a treasure for Lake Forest.”