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Lagoons

This development was twofold in purpose -- primarily for flood control but creating a marsh and water landscape with facilities for outdoor recreation. The Chewab Skokie, long noted for its restful changing beauties had been mutilated by drainage ditches which lowered the water table, thus promoting new types of rank vegetation and yearly peat fires. Control of seasonal flooding in this entire valley was accomplished by the construction of seven lagoons with a flood plain of 400 acres. They are held within dikes by a main control dam at Willow Road. Three low dams maintain an average water level close to the ground surface which is ideal for marsh vegetation.

The result has been a unique development. In addition to flood control, the lagoons have provided new picnic spots and 190 acres of fishing waters for thousands of people. The original marsh may have been more picturesque but few people could enioy it.

Points of Interest

  Good fishing from shorelines and boats

  Area notable for wildflowers

  Wildlife refuge

  Nature trails

  Skokie Division Headquarters

Boat Ramp and Handicapped Fishing Wall

  Charles "Chick" Evans, Jr. 18-hole golf course

  Youth Group Camp (by permit only)

  Chicago Bctanic Garden

Harms Woods is notable for its spring wildflowers and many fine trees. However, most of its huge sugar maples and other patriarchs of the primeval forest are gone victims of old age or disastrous fires.

Trails

In the Skokie Division, trails, extend from Church St. to Willow Road and thence, after crossing the dam, along the west side of the lagoons to Tower Road. There is a foot trail east of the lagoons from Willow Road to Tower Road and the shoulders of the Forest Way may also be used to Dundee Road. Another trail parallels the Middle Fork from Volz Road to Dundee Road and loops around Somme Woods.

More information about Forest Preserve Trails

About this page...

This page is based on a publication of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, tIllinois, adapted for the web as a public service by CLONK. This web site is unofficial, and not associated in any way with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. CLONK is not responsible for any errors, either in the original publication or in this web version. The information presented here follows the original Forest Preserve District publication as closely as possible, with minor variations such as choice of typeface and added web links. CLONK cautions that items such as names of public servants and telephone numbers are subject to change! This web version was completed Spring, 2000.

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