COMING SOON! With nearly 26,000 acres, 35 conservation areas open to the public, and over 53 years of connecting people to nature, the Conservation District always has something going on to enhance your outdoor experience! Prairie Trail Improvements / Construction Alerts: The popular 26-mile Prairie Trail is over 20 years old and is in need of updates. This summer, two sections are scheduled for resurfacing to improve your cycling or hiking experience. The Hollows - Lake Atwood Lorraine Drive to Hillside Road - 1.5 miles (Expected time frame: June to September) This section of trail passes through the Sterne’s Woods Illinois Nature Preserve. Trail Enhancements and The District will resurface this 8’ wide asphalt trail, improve line-of-sight, ADA Improvements improve the shoulders, add pavement markings, update signage, add ADA Beginning in August, the Conservation District will improvements at roadway crossings and update trailheads. start site improvements to The Hollows Conservation Hillside Road to Edgewood Road - 1.26 miles (Expected time frame: June to September) Area in Cary. The project includes replacing the This asphalt section of the trail, known as the Prairie Trail Link, is scheduled gravel path around the 22-acre Lake Atwood with for resurfacing. The project includes repaving the 8’ wide asphalt trail, a paved accessible trail, installing a new 昀椀shing improving shoulders, adding pavement markings, updating signage and ADA pier, and the addition of an accessible canoe/kayak improvements at roadway crossings. The project is partially funded by the launch. Work will also improve shoreline 昀椀shing IDNR Bike Path grant program ($200,000). access, and the addition of new way昀椀nding signs, interpretive signs and a new main entrance sign. Solar lights will also be installed to facilitate evening Check the District’s website for site closures and alerts: MCCD.me/Closures. cross-country skiers. The project is partially funded by two IDNR grants, an Illinois Boat Access Area Development (BAAD) grant and an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant. The Hollows opened to the public in 1987 and is one of the District's most popular outdoor recreation sites as it o昀昀ers 昀椀shing, hiking, paddling, camping, picnicking and cross-country skiing. Check MCCD.me/Closures for any closures or site alerts during construction in late summer and fall. Contents   2 | News & Noteworthy 19 | Calendars  20 | Paddling Nippersink   4 | Foundation News Creek 6 | Seasonal Sightings 21 | District Sites Map 7 | Pollinator Week 8 | Special Events First Friday Concerts/ Hooked on Fishing/ The Great Outdoors Beer Trail / And More! STOP BY AND SEE US THIS SUMMER!  12 | Outdoor Recreation WOODSTOCK FARMER'S MARKET   14 | Paddling Adventures May 28, June 4, June 22, July 2, July 13, August 17, 15 | Special Interest August 20, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Woodstock Square  16 | Outdoor Adventures PLANET PALOOZA   17 | Discovery July 14, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Woodstock Square 18 | Volunteer MONARCH FAIR Kevin Horner August 11, 12:30-4 p.m., Crystal Lake Main Beach Landscapes | Summer 2024