The Forest Preserves of Cook County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a five‐year projection of planned capital improvements to the Forest Preserves’ buildings, trails and infrastructure.
The $286 million, five-year plan for 2025 to 2029 includes $55 million in projected spending in 2025, primarily for rehabilitation and renewal of existing trails and facilities, including:
- Enhancements to the Des Plaines River Trail from the new Lawrence Avenue bridge south to Schiller Woods.
- Des Plaines River canoe and kayak access at Maywood Grove.
- Repaving of the popular 2.7-mile Midlothian Meadow loop trail.
- Structural repairs of limestone shelters at Harms Woods.
- Restroom renovation at Busse Woods and Dan Ryan Woods.
- New restroom facilities at Beaubien Woods Boat Launch.
- Building improvements at McGinnis Fisheries field station.
- Bridge repairs at Chick Evans and Edgebrook Golf Courses.
- New trailhead and wayfinding signs at various trailhead locations.
A more complete list of the $55 million in 2025 projects, along with $231 million in priority projects for the next four years (2026-2029), is included in a separate appendix. Additionally, the Table 3 “wish list” includes roughly $83 million in additional new amenities that could benefit Forest Preserves visitors, but will require new grant funding or partner support. A total of $22 million in new Construction & Development Funding is proposed in 2025.
Comments may be submitted to planning@cookcountyil.gov until December 17, 2024. The final version will be posted in January 2025.
Requests for New or Improved Facilities, Amenities & Infrastructure
Learn about the process for requesting new or improved buildings, trails, recreation facilities or infrastructure and make specific requests.