Visitors Invited to Review, Provide Feedback on Plans
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is hosting a public open house on Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at the indoor riding arena at St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Winfield Township to present improvement plans for the facility.
Visitors will be able to review proposed improvements and designs that will bring the building up to code and allow the District to use the facility for equestrian and other recreational activities. Tentative plans call for upgrading the HVAC, electrical and lighting systems; adding restrooms, fire alarms, sprinklers, emergency lights and signs, and bleachers; and modifying doors, windows and skylights. District staff and design consultants will be on hand to answer questions.
People attending the open house should park at the preserve’s main lot on Winfield Road just north of Butterfield Road. For more information, call the District’s Planning Department at 630-933-7237.
“We are hoping these improvements will allow us to provide additional recreational opportunities for DuPage County residents,” said Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President Joe Cantore.
The arena was built in 1969 by Brooks and Hope McCormick to accommodate their black-tie events and later served as the St. James Riding School for the Handicapped. When the Forest Preserve District took ownership of the property, this building was not up to code. It currently requires several life-safety and building-code improvements before the District can use it for public events and activities.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 4 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 145 miles of trails, five education centers and scores of programs each year. For information, call 630-933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the District’s e-newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube pages.