Forest Preserves were initiated by a 1913 statute authorizing the establishment of taxing districts,
“To acquire … and hold lands … containing one or more natural forests or lands connecting such forests or parts thereof, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna and scenic beauties within such district, and to restore, restock, protect, and preserve the natural forests and said lands together 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.“
This visionary statement was largely the work of two great Chicagoans, the architect Dwight Perkins and the landscape architect Jens Jensen. It recognized the innate importance of natural landscapes as well as their benefit to people living in an increasingly developed metropolitan area. While the language of the original act has been amended over the years to expand and clarify the powers of the forest preserve districts, the intent of the act was clear.
The Kane County Forest Preserve District was organized in 1925 by public referendum. Its mission statement is,
“To acquire, hold and maintain lands within Kane County that contribute to the preservation of natural and historic resources, habitats, flora, and fauna; and to restore, restock, protect and preserve such lands for the education, recreation, and pleasure of all its citizens.”
The Goal is “To preserve and restore the nature of Kane County.” During the course of the Brunner/Gravel Mining Study, it became clear that there had been some “mission drift” in recent years. How else can one reconcile the stated mission and goals with the willingness to entertain, even briefly, the idea of developing a gravel mine in a forest preserve?
Aside from the gravel mining issue, there have been other instances of the use of Forest Preserve land and money for purposes only marginally related to the mission statement. A 1996 amendment to the Downstate Forest Preserve Act gave forest preserve districts the power
“to construct, equip, acquire, extend, improve, restore, maintain, and operate recreational and cultural facilities, including but not limited to natatoriums, swimming pools, ice skating rinks, tennis courts, golf courses, toboggan slides, ski areas, museums, historic buildings, botanical gardens, cultural and environmental education centers, or any combination thereof, and all necessary related facilities, such as but not limited to gift shops, cafeterias, snack bars, restaurants, or any combination thereof.”
Like other Districts, the Kane County Forest Preserve District began to blur the distinction between a forest preserve and a park district. The KCFPD operates the Durant House Museum and the Pioneer Sholes School at the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, and the Fabyan Villa Museum, Fabyan Windmill, and Japanese Tea Garden at the Fabyan Forest Preserve. These facilities existed before the estates were purchased by the District, and complement the mission to preserve natural and historic resources.
Other facilities owned by the District have a less direct bearing on the goal to preserve and restore the nature of Kane County. Golf courses, for example, provide open space, recreation, and limited wildlife habitat. They do not preserve and restore natural lands. There is nothing natural about mowed greens, and the gas and chemicals needed to maintain them. Deer Valley Golf Course is adjacent to Big Rock Forest Preserve, and Hughes Creek Golf Course is adjacent to Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve, so they do serve as a green space buffer. Settler’s Hill Golf Course, however, is the site of a county landfill. It offers very little in the way of natural habitat, flora and fauna.
Even further from the goal of preserving and restoring the nature of Kane County is the Philip B. Elfstrom Events Center, which includes the Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, the Fox Valley Strikers Soccer facility, and the Fox Valley Ice Arena. There is no nature here to preserve. The Forest Preserve District acquired some needed office space above the FV Ice Arena, but it seems to be a very large expenditure for office space. Whether or not these facilities are self-supporting, they represent a move away from the mission statement of the Forest Preserve District.
There has been an erosion of the mission to preserve and restore natural lands within the traditional forest preserves, as well. While there may be justification for minimally invasive uses, such as utility easements, or agricultural use as cropland until such time as restoration can be begun, in many cases there has been a blurring of the distinction between forest preserves and park districts or municipal parks. Forest Preserve District President John Hoscheit, a former St. Charles park board member, was quoted in a 5-30-03 Chicago Tribune article about Big Rock Forest Preserve as saying that
“providing more recreational opportunities is necessary to better demonstrate to taxpayers the benefits of investing in the land.”
At that time, only about 5% of forest preserve land was available for recreation, with the rest being open space. He said that the (forest preserve’s) goal should be to double recreational acreage to 10%, which he called “the industry standard.”
“We have very aggressive park districts in the eastern part of the county, so the pressure is not as great (to boost recreational uses). With development of Kane’s western townships that don’t have park districts, however, the pressure to make our open space accessible and usable will increase.”
Under his tenure, forest preserves have become more like park districts. But this trend marks a turning away from the mission to preserve natural lands in their natural state.