CROWN JEWEL

A decade after its landmark renovation, Forest Park continues to thrive as one of Lake Forest’s most cherished green spaces.

67 (tent) Photograph By Dt Kindler Photography

TUCKED AT THE CORNER OF DEERPATH and Lake Roads, Forest Park has long been considered a crown jewel of Lake Forest. For more than 150 years, families, dog walkers, picnickers, and daydreamers alike have wandered its trails and admired its sweeping views of Lake Michigan. What many don’t realize, however, is that this beloved park is not simply a patch of protected green space—it’s the product of vision, collaboration, and constant care.

On September 27, the community gathered at Forest Park for a celebration of the park’s most recent milestone—the 10-year anniversary of its transformative renovation.

“The Forest Park Conservancy is such a wonderful joint effort between the City of Lake Forest and the Forest Park Conservancy board,” says Brooke Kuehnle, who with Pim Alley and Emily Grace, chaired the September celebration—“Ten Years: One Epic Night.” “The legacy of Forest Park only continues through the generosity and care from both the public and private sectors working together.”

That spirit of collaboration was beautifully reflected throughout the evening. Guests enjoyed wine donated by Terlato Wines, beer provided by Towne & Country Distributors, and an extraordinary dinner prepared by Ballyhoo Catering—a remarkable culinary feat given the team created a full kitchen right in the park. Under a canopy of lights and lake breezes, ESP Presents orchestrated the celebration from start to finish, ensuring every detail came together seamlessly for a truly spectacular night.

The Forest Park Conservancy is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization dedicated to land management, financial stewardship, community engagement, and fundraising to support the Park’s future. While the City of Lake Forest provides general park maintenance, the Conservancy takes on special projects and improvements to elevate the Park experience.

When the Forest Park Conservancy (once called the Forest Park Project Board, later the Preservation Board, and now the Forest Park Conservancy) first imagined a major renovation to the park more than a decade ago, their goal was simple: to preserve the park as a passive space, a place for reflection, community, and beauty.

“For every person strolling the bluff path or pausing on a bench to gaze at the lake, there are countless hours of unseen labor keeping the park so serene,” explains Grace. “Invasive plants have been cleared to open windows to the water and beds of native flowers have been carefully managed. When I joined the board, I learned that the oak tree in the center of the park—though no longer living—remains intentionally in place, reminding visitors that every part of the ecosystem has a purpose.”

“It takes an incredible amount of expertise to maintain these spaces,” adds Kuehnle. “Prairie plants can be overtaken by weeds in a single season. That’s why we have landscape artists like Cliff Miller, horticulturists from the Chicago Botanic Garden, and dedicated forestry professionals lending their time and talent to Forest Park.”

The City of Lake Forest plays a pivotal role, too, with its forestry team treating trees and caring for the land in close partnership with the Conservancy. Representatives attend every Conservancy meeting, making Forest Park a model for how city leadership and passionate volunteers can steward something greater together.

What makes Forest Park so extraordinary isn’t just its history or its breathtaking views—it’s the people who’ve poured their hearts into it. Names like Jane O’Neil, Joan DePree, Mary Hoffman, and Bob Crawford are woven into the park’s legacy, each ensuring that this land would remain a treasured space for the whole community.

“Bob likes to remind the board at every meeting: This park is for everyone,” Alley says. “Everyone should be able to find their peace and their happiness at Forest Park.”

And they do. From the middle schoolers who still gather for bike rides and picnics, to the dog owners making their morning loops, to families taking in fall’s vibrant colors, Forest Park is a shared gem that bridges generations.

As the Forest Park Conservancy looks to the future, momentum continues to grow. A new Heritage Tree Endowment is being launched, offering residents the opportunity to leave a living legacy by planting trees. The Conservancy’s website and newsletter serve as touchpoints for education and engagement, helping residents better understand the thoughtful stewardship required to maintain such a space.

“From enjoying a walk with a friend to watching the change of season from this extraordinary vantage point, Forest Park is a Lake Forest treasure,” says Tom Donovan, board president of the Forest Park Conservancy. “Our hope is that people take advantage of this beautiful open space year-round.”