Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

What Forest Preserve District of DuPage County does

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is a local government special district established in 1915 by voter referendum, headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois, that owns and manages approximately 26,000 acres of natural area across 60 forest preserves, 175 miles of trails, and seven education centers (including DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center, Kline Creek Farm, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Graue Mill and Museum, Danada Equestrian Center, Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, and St. James Farm). It conducts habitat restoration (prescribed burns, invasive species removal), species recovery programs for freshwater mussels, Hine's emerald dragonflies, and Blanding's turtles via the Urban Stream Research Center, and wildlife rehabilitation (~11,000 animals treated annually). Operational technology is limited to GIS-based preserve mapping, drone use by the 25-officer police department for search-and-rescue, a prescribed burn planning database, and standard web analytics (Google Analytics, Hotjar, Facebook pixel); the District has no disclosed AI capabilities.

The District is funded primarily through DuPage County property taxes and periodic voter referendums (including a $75M land acquisition referendum in 1997), supplemented by transaction-based revenue from two golf courses (Maple Meadows and The Preserve at Oak Meadows), program fees for day camps and educational programs, facility and shelter rentals, special use permits, and donations routed through the Friends of the Forest Preserve District nonprofit. Customer-facing channels are predominantly free public access to preserves and trails, with online reservations handled via ActiveNet and donations processed through Bloomerang. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on volunteer programs (Trail Watch and others), seasonal campaigns (Unplug to Recharge, America 250), school and scout group programs, ranger-led adventures, and a multi-channel social media presence spanning Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, email newsletters, and SMS text alerts. The customer base consists of DuPage County residents and visitors (5.9 million annual visitors), K–12 schools and scout groups, golfers, and partners such as Trout Unlimited and the DuPage Monarch Project.

Governance is by an elected board of commissioners; there is no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no private ownership. Recent strategic activity centers on capital project execution (West Branch DuPage River Trail ~$8.5M; Maple Meadows renovation Nov 2025–2027), regulatory milestones (National Register designation for Fullersburg Woods in 2026; CALEA accreditation of the police department in 2023), and ecosystem restoration (2023 Salt Creek dam removal). Federal grants (Transportation Alternatives Program, Surface Transportation Program) supplement the property tax base for infrastructure expansion. The District holds no disclosed patents but maintains a protected name and logo trademark.

Name

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Legal name

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Website

https://dupageforest.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is a 1915-founded local government special district that manages 26,000 acres across 60 forest preserves, 175 miles of trails, and seven education centers in DuPage County, Illinois. It serves 5.9 million annual visitors with conservation, habitat restoration, species recovery, wildlife rehabilitation, recreational, and educational programming, funded primarily by property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Parks & Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAAAG), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Public parks management
• Conservation services
• Outdoor recreation
• Nature education
• Wildlife preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheaton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Government district funded primarily through property taxes from DuPage County residents
2. Golf Operations: Revenue from golf courses including Maple Meadows Golf Course and The Preserve at Oak Meadows
3. Program Fees: Fees for day camps, group programs, educational programs, and recreational activities
4. Facility Rentals and Permits: Revenue from shelter reservations, event spaces, and special use permits
5. Donations: Support from Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County nonprofit organization

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County manages approximately 26,000 acres of natural areas across 60 forest preserves, 175 miles of trails, and seven education centers in DuPage County, Illinois. It provides free public access to woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and waterways, supplemented by fee-based outdoor recreation (golf, fishing, camping, archery), environmental education programs for schools and scouts, day camps, wildlife rehabilitation, conservation and species recovery services, event space rentals, and special use permits.

Product overview

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County operates a comprehensive parks and conservation system centered on 60 forest preserves spanning approximately 26,000 acres of woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and waterways. The District's core offerings include seven education centers (Danada Equestrian Center, DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center, Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, Graue Mill and Museum, Kline Creek Farm, Mayslake Peabody Estate, and St. James Farm), 175 miles of recreational trails, diverse outdoor activities (fishing, boating, camping, archery, golf), and group programming for schools and scouts. Conservation operations encompass habitat restoration through prescribed burns, species recovery programs for freshwater mussels, Blanding's turtles and Hine's emerald dragonflies, and wildlife rehabilitation at the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center treating ~11,000 animals annually. The District manages two golf facilities (Maple Meadows Golf Course under renovation, and The Preserve at Oak Meadows with solar-powered cart fleet) and operates major capital projects including the 26-mile West Branch DuPage River Trail. Visitor engagement is supported through digital communications (text alerts, email newsletters, blog, social media), adaptive equipment lending (all-terrain wheelchairs), event space rentals, and volunteer programs including Trail Watch. Financial transactions for donations and program registration are handled through third-party platforms Bloomerang and ActiveNet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.9 million annual visitors served
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2025IDOT awarded a $6,927,968.55 contract for construction of the West Branch DuPage River Trail segment between Blackwell and West DuPage Woods. The project includes a bridge crossing the West Branch of the DuPage River and Roosevelt Road.
• DuPage CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership to develop the West Branch DuPage River Trail. The county has worked with the district for decades on trail development.
• Local Municipalities and Park DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with DuPage County, local municipalities, and park districts to develop the regional trail network.
• Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit organization that supports the district through donations, fundraising, and community engagement to connect people to nature.
• Oak Brook Chapter of Trout UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for fly-fishing education programs including classroom sessions, fly-tying demonstrations, and on-water instruction at Fullersburg Woods.
• DuPage River Salt Creek WorkgroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the 2023 dam removal project on Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods, restoring natural creek flow and enhancing fish habitat.
• V3 CompaniesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm hired to help with invasive nonnative woody brush and small tree removal at Belleau Woods as first step in habitat restoration.
• Urban RiversminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based nonprofit partnership for transforming city waterways through mussel restoration projects.
• DuPage Monarch ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration of four local environmental organizations contributing science, education, community organizing, and public outreach for monarch butterfly conservation.
• STEM Study ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTour company from Dayton, Ohio that brings student groups to experience the Urban Stream Research Center as part of their Chicago tour.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• The Conservation Foundation: Regional nonprofit land trust serving the Chicago western suburbs including DuPage County. Comparable in mission (land preservation, conservation) but operates through easement/advocacy rather than direct land management.

Direct peers

• Kane County Forest Preserve District: Same statutory type of government entity in neighboring Kane County, IL, managing thousands of acres of preserves with similar recreation, education, and habitat restoration programs.
• Forest Preserves of Cook County: Direct peer as a neighboring Illinois forest preserve district managing ~70,000 acres of preserves and trails in Cook County. Same statutory structure, similar mix of conservation, recreation, and education programs, and serves the adjacent Chicago-area population.
• Will County Forest Preserve District: Illinois forest preserve district serving Will County with comparable preservation, trail, and conservation mandate. Similar revenue mix and operational scale to DuPage.
• McHenry County Conservation District: Conservation district in McHenry County, IL, managing natural areas, trails, and education facilities with a comparable public agency structure and programming.
• Lake County Forest Preserves: Illinois special district managing ~31,000 acres of forest preserves in Lake County. Highly comparable in mandate, funding model (property tax-based), product mix (preserves, trails, education centers, golf), and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources: State-level agency overseeing state parks, fish and wildlife, and conservation across Illinois. Broader geographic scope and statutory mandate, but with overlapping responsibilities in habitat management, species recovery, and outdoor recreation.

Others

• DuPage County: Strategic partner and funder through which the District coordinates regional trail development and shares property tax base. Provides enabling infrastructure but is not a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/dupageforest
• Facebookfacebook.com/DuPageForest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dupageforest
• Instagraminstagram.com/dupageforest
• TikToktiktok.com/@dupageforest
• Xx.com/dupageforest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forest Preserve District of DuPage County