Everyone’s invited to a special Centennial Celebration marking 100 years of conservation, recreation, and environmental education with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.
Join community leaders, staff, volunteers, and neighbors at noon Sunday, June 8, at Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve, 41W600 Hughes Road, Elburn, the first preserve established by the Forest Preserve District.
The celebration will begin with a short program featuring speeches from local leaders and Forest Preserve District representatives, reflecting on a century of progress and future goals for conservation.
The event also marks the debut of the Centennial Grove Project — a major initiative that includes the planting of 800 native trees, a restored 23-acre prairie, expanded trail connections, and a new ADA-accessible trail spur. A council ring gathering space offers a peaceful, natural setting for reflection and community use. The celebration will also include the unveiling of Guardians, a two-piece sculpture by renowned local artist Mike Baur, marking the District’s first permanent public art installation.
The public is encouraged to actively participate in the celebration by helping to plant 500 oak trees within the new Centennial Grove. This is a unique opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the landscape and support a greener future for Kane County. Following the tree planting, attendees can join guided hikes through the preserve and new project areas. In addition to planting and hiking, the event features:
•Ribbon-cutting ceremony
•Live music
•Educational pollinator station
•Food trucks with refreshments for purchase
•Commemorative coins (while supplies last)
To sponsor a tree or learn more, visit www.kaneforestpreservefoundation.org/centennial or call 630-232-5980.
—Forest Preserve District of Kane County