Picnic Permits

THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY’S NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION REDUCED RATE INFORMATION

Requests for a picnic or special use permit made by a school or bona fide nonprofit organization, residing in the County of Cook, may receive a reduction in fees by 50%.

A bona fide nonprofit organization is one which is engaged in charitable, educational, civic, youth, and faith-based activities. For purposes of qualifying for the Nonprofit Organization Reduced Rate, an applicant must submit proof of the following:
1. Exemption under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or
2. Current registration with the Illinois Attorney General as a charitable organization.
3. The location of the official headquarters or administrative office of the organization submitting the request for said permits is located in the County of Cook and is the same as that which is on file with the Illinois Attorney General, or was submitted for exemption under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, except in the case of local chapters of national organization, wherein the local chapter maintains a Cook County office and submits proof of affiliation with the national organization.
4. If the applicant is a school located within Cook County, no additional documentation or proof of nonprofit status shall be required other than a letter signed by an official of the school stating that the activity/event is officially sanctioned under and supervised by employee(s) of the school.
5. Notwithstanding any other published deadlines, all applications for Reduced Rate Picnic or Special Use Permits must be received by the Recreation Department no less than 45 days prior to the date of the Event. All applications for Reduced Rate Permits must be submitted in person.
6. Vending of Food or Merchandise is not allowed under the Reduced Rate Special Use Permit, except for charitable organizations with net assets of $10,000 or less who apply for the vending fee permit waiver. Qualification for the vending fee permit waiver requires registration with the Illinois Attorney General’s office as a charitable organization, and submission of a balance statement for the previous year to verify its assets at the time of application for a permit.
7. Applicants applying for the not-for-profit discount must also have a letter from the Not-for-Profit Organization requesting the discount, signed by an official of the requesting Organization, on Official Organization letterhead, stipulating the event is an Official Organization function.  

NOTE: CHANGES TO CATEGORY “W” PERMITS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IF THE ORIGINAL PERMIT WAS ISSUED TEN (“10″) OR LESS BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE PICNIC/EVENT DATE. Permit changes must be made in person at the Forest Preserve District headquarters, 536 North Harlem Avenue, River Forest, Illinois. The PICNIC PERMIT CHAIRPERSON must make all requests. Please bring your identification, the original permit and the $5.00 permit change fee with you. WEEKEND DAYS AND HOLIDAYS ARE NOT CONSIDERED BUSINESS DAYS!

• Category W (Groups involving 25 – 99 persons in attendance)Applications and application fees must be filed at least five (5) business days before the picnic/event is to take place. Permits may be obtained online or in person.In order to increase the availability of groves for all picnics, Category “W” groups are required to reserve groves that hold a maximum of 200 persons or less. (Grove capacities are found on the grove maps). All Category “W” permits for groves that accommodate over 200 people must pay an additional surcharge for the grove chosen. Your application may require offical review by the Forest Preserve District before your permit is issued.
• Category X (Groups involving 100 – 399 persons in attendance)Application must be filed at least twenty-one (21) business days before the picnic/event is to take place.A surcharge of $50.00 is also required.Permits may be obtained online or in person. Your application may require official review by the Forest Preserve District before your permit is issued if purchased in person. Internet purchases will be reserved and paid for, but will be reviewed and mailed to the picnic chairperson when approved.
• Category Y (Groups involving 400 – 999 persons in attendance)Applications must be filed at least thirty (30) business days before the picnic/event is to take place.A $1,000,000.00 General Liability Insurance certificate and surcharge of $300.00 is required before approval.All “Y” Category applications must be applied for in person. No Internet purchased will be accepted.All “Y” Category applications must be reviewed and approved by the Forest Preserve District before the permit is issued. The respective groves will be reserved during the review process. All Category “Y” permits are restricted to the designated Level IV areas listed below.REQUIRED: A minimum of one (1) Cook County Forest Preserve Police Officer, depending on the size & type of the event permitted.Category Z (Groups involving 1000 or more persons in attendance) Applications must be filed at least sixty (60) business days before the picnic/event is to take place.A $2,000,000 General Liability Insurance certificate and a surcharge of $600.00 is required before approval.All “Z” category applications must be filed in person. No Internet purchased will be accepted.All “Z” category applications must be reviewed and approved by the Forest Preserve District before the permit is issued. The respective groves will be reserved during the review process. All Category “Z” permits are restricted to the designated Level IV areas listed below.REQUIRED: A minimum of two (2) Cook County Forest Preserve Police Officers, depending on the size & type of the event permitted.

All categories of permits may require a security deposit as determined by the Forest Preserve District. All deposits for picnic/events and special use permits must be given by credit card only (Visa or MasterCard accepted). The credit card will be refunded in a timely period after your picnic/event.

• Northwest Division Busse Woods Arlington Heights Rd. and Higgins, Elk Grove Village

• North Branch Division St. Paul Woods Lincoln Avenue and Lehigh, Morton Grove

• Salt Creek Division Miller Meadow Roosevelt Rd. and First Avenue, Maywood

• Sag Valley Division Swallow Cliff Woods Rt. 83, west of Mannheim (Rt. 45), Palos Park

• Thorn Creen Division Green Lake Woods Torrence Avenue and 159th Street, Calumet City