During Illinois Association of Park Districts’ virtual Best of the Best ceremony in November, three awards were presented to projects and people connected to the Forest Preserves.

Project Onward, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods and the Forest Preserves received the Arts in the Park award for their collaboration on Fresh Air, a virtual art exhibition benefitting Project Onward. The exhibit showcased the work of the Project Onward artists, providing important exposure for the talented individuals while also highlighting the importance of local nature as inspiration in art.

June Webb, a volunteer steward at Kickapoo and Whistler Woods, received the Outstanding Citizen Volunteer Award for her dedication and passion as a volunteer in the Calumet region. She has dedicated more than 1,200 hours to the Forest Preserves as a steward, trail watch volunteer and dragonfly monitor, and leads activities at Whistler and Kickapoo Woods that educate visitors and volunteers about local ecosystems and inspires curiosity about the natural world just outside their doors.

Finally, Hoffman Estates Park District, the Village of Hoffman Estates and the Forest Preserves received the Intergovernmental Cooperation Award for their partnership to create a trail segment that connects the Village of Hoffman Estates to the Forest Preserves’ Poplar Creek trail system. The trail segment creates a significant addition to a regional priority corridor that runs from Elgin to Evanston, providing a safe way for walkers and bikers to traverse the area for recreation, school and work.