Hidden Oaks Nature Center Re-Opens
Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook reopened Saturday, May 3, on a sun-kissed day filled with good vibes and plenty of forest fun.
More than 1,400 people attended the “Oak-tacular Comeback Celebration” event, which featured live music, roasted hot dogs, bubbles, tree climbing, beekeepers, face painting, touch-a-truck opportunities and nature activities. Inside, visitors explored new oak-themed nature exhibits, new quarters for the popular resident reptiles and so much more.
The site was closed for 15 months for a $2 million makeover to transform Hidden Oaks into a nature education and recreation hub for northern Will County and beyond. The Forest Preserve District of Will County bought the 33-acre site from the Bolingbrook Park District in February 2022.
Attending a ribbon cutting for the site were Forest Preserve Board President Destinee Ortiz, Secretary Mica Freeman, and commissioners Dawn Bullock, Elnalyn Costa, Julie Berkowicz and Jackie Traynere. Also in attendance were state Sen. Rachel Ventura; Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta; Forest Preserve Citizens Advisory Committee member Barbara Parker; and Patrick Moore, project manager for Wight and Company.
Ortiz thanked visitors for attending the event.
“Since purchase of the property from the Bolingbrook Park District in 2022, we’ve worked over the past few years to transform this facility and property into a truly immersive place that allows you to escape to nature in the middle of an urban environment,” she said.
Many of the building’s enhancements highlight the importance of oak trees in environmental habitats, said Ralph Schultz, the Forest Preserve’s executive director.
“Oaks support over 2,000 other species, making them truly a keystone in the community,” he said.
Schultz added that the nature center is more than a building.
“It’s a space for discovery, learning, and inspiration,” he said. “We hope visitors leave not just with knowledge but with a deeper appreciation for the natural world.”
Hidden Oaks Nature Center is located at 419 Trout Farm Road, Bolingbrook. The building is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The nature center is part of Hidden Oaks Preserve, which also includes Hidden Lakes Trout Farm and the Tackle Box bait shop.