Forest Park Nature Center - Peoria Heights, IL
Posted by: NoLemon
N 40° 45.428 W 089° 34.487
16T E 282652 N 4514986
Forest Park Nature Center, comprised of over 500 acres designated as Illinois State Nature Preserve, contains over 7 miles of hiking trails and a small natural history museum.
Waymark Code: WMRQC
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 09/29/2006
Views: 91
This rugged 540-acre park was acquired in the mid-1950s and later designated as a state nature preserve. The nature center's 7+ miles of hiking trails traverse bluff forestland, an open woodland interspersed with hill prairie openings holding uncommon prairie plant species such as bottlebrush grass, pussytoes and golden Alexander. Chipmunks, squirrels and White-tailed Deer are common inhabitants. Over 100 woodland bird species commonly use the park as migrants, winter visitors or year-round residents. The nature center's bird feeding/watering station is always busy with chickadees, titmice, Whitebreasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker, as well as warblers, vireos and other neotropical species, particularly during migrations.
The Center also features a natural history museum, spacious viewing room for bird watchers and the Trailhead Nature Store with books, nature-related merchandise and unique gift items for all ages. With handicapped accessibility and free parking, the Nature Center is open year-round.
Hours: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
Open Year Round?: yes
Interpretive Programs?: yes
Live Animal Displays: yes
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Visit Instructions:
Visitors should visit the Nature Center and post a photo of themselves (or GPS unit) either inside or outside of the nature center visited. Logs without photos WILL be allowed if a lenghty description of one's visit and a mention of what they learned is included.