Pilcher Park Winter Eco-Restoration Kickoff: Wear Sturdy Shoes, Warm Clothes You Don’t Mind Getting Dirty

(The following edited press release is from Jessica Villarreal, Field Representative, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves.)

JOLIET, IL — Located on the east side of Joliet along Hickory Creek, the 640-acre Pilcher Park is one of northeastern Illinois’ premiere oak woodlands with outstanding spring wildflower displays and old-growth trees. More than 270 native plant species have been documented within Pilcher Park; however, many of those species are becoming harder and harder to find.

But wait – Pilcher Park was dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in 2018, affording it the states’ greatest legal protection. Why is it suffering a loss of biodiversity?

Floyd Catchpole, former land management program coordinator at the Forest Preserves of Will County, notes the detrimental effects of historic fire suppression in altering the landscape of Pilcher Park.

“A mind-boggling spread of fire-sensitive trees have filled up the empty spaces in our woods, making them so dark that not only are oak seedlings unable to grow, but wildflowers and woodland grasses are also dying from lack of light,” says Catchpole. “We once had a carpet of woodland grasses and wildflowers blooming through the summer. Pilcher Park still has summer wildflowers hanging on in rare sunny spots, and some seeds can live for decades in soil, so all is not lost. We still have time to bring back so many plants and insects if we can only get light to the ground.”

Enter Friends of Pilcher Park: a new grassroots volunteer group which partners with Joliet Park District and Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves to help restore and manage Pilcher Park Nature Preserve. The community will host its 3rd annual kickoff event on Saturday, January 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. All are invited to join in – a vibrant community needs leaders of all kinds: plant nerds, people persons, outreach specialists, and all manner of folks who are inspired to do good work for nature. The day’s activities will include removing invasive species and burning the brush on a warm fire, possibly spreading seeds, and strategizing plans for the future.

“I had no idea that an oak woodland is supposed to have dappled light and a diverse understory, not just shade,” says Jerry Moore, a volunteer and retired Chicago Public Schools teacher. “I’ve learned so much from working with this community for the last three years, including the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to help correct these problems.”

For the last 2 years, the Friends of Pilcher Park have been working tenaciously to restore the woodland by thinning areas of invasive trees, scouting for surviving populations of high quality woodland flora, collecting seeds, and re-establishing them in areas under restoration.

The kick-off event on Saturday, January 17 is sponsored by the Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves and supported by the Joliet Park District. All are invited to join on January 17th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. We’ll meet in the Pilcher Park Nature Center parking lot, located at 2501 Highland Park Drive. Wear sturdy shoes and warm clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, wool, cotton, canvas or other natural fibers recommended. We’ll walk, talk, and work. Come help plan and lead, or just pitch in. No experience necessary.

About Friends of Pilcher Park Nature Preserve

Founded in 2023, Friends of Pilcher Park Nature Preserve is committed to restoring a healthy and biodiverse oak woodland ecosystem at Pilcher Park in Joliet. Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves supports the Illinois Nature Preserves System by advocating for and finding increased support, resources, funding, and staff for the system and assisting local volunteer communities as they help restore and care for their Illinois biodiversity reserves.