Shade structure installed thanks to Earthrise Energy

(Photo by Amy Roberts)

There are so many reasons to visit the Forest Preserve District’s Monee Reservoir and The Nature Foundation of Will County just added another! With a gift from Earthrise Energy, visitors will find respite from the sun under a new shade structure that was just installed over the visitor center’s patio.

The Nature Foundation of Will County received a $50,000 grant from Earthrise Energy, an independent power producer with plants in Crete and Manhattan. The donation was the largest one-time gift approved in Will County for the Rise Grant program, which was developed for company to invest and partner with local non-profits that serve people where the company has operations.

The 248-acre Monee Reservoir is open year-round, and its visitor center, which includes a concession stand and bait shop, is open from March through October. The preserve is a hotspot in the summer, said Heather Van Zyl, the Forest Preserve facility supervisor for the site. Popular activities include fishing and boating, and there are two picnic shelters to rent as well as trails to explore.

The District hosts public programs and events as well as scout groups, youth camps and after-school fishing clubs throughout the year, but the preserve is particularly busy in warmer months, when all recreational pursuits are available. During the summer, paddling programs are popular, and it’s common to see people boating on the 46-acre lake and fishing along the shore.

The addition of a shade structure has long been on the wish list for the preserve, VanZyl said. The patio adjacent to the visitor center is the perfect spot to host programs and for visitors to relax and enjoy the views of the water.

“Having shade enhances how we are able to use the space,” she said. “It makes it more user-friendly by allowing a reprieve from the sun and heat, which can be the difference between folks being able to visit us or not depending on their sun sensitivity and other health conditions.”

The new shade structure isn’t the only recent improvement at Monee Reservoir. A bike repair station was also recently installed with financial support from The Nature Foundation’s donors, including the Joliet Bicycle Club.

The preserve may not be the first that comes to mind for biking, but Van Zyl said they often have long-distance cyclists stop there to take breaks. Because Monee Reservoir has latrines and a concession stand, it offers a nice place for them to rest and refuel before they continue on their way.  Having a bike repair station available is another way the Forest Preserve can accommodate them on their visits.

“Cycling is one of the many recreation opportunities we encourage,” she said. “A repair station keeps cyclists safe on the trails and roadways by giving them a chance to repair bikes in an emergency situation or even to provide routine maintenance if they don’t have their own tools.”

“We are grateful for the support from Earthrise Energy and the Joliet Bicycle Club for investing with The Nature Foundation to make improvements at Monee Reservoir,” said Tara Neff, executive director of The Nature Foundation of Will County. “We believe outdoor recreation is essential to connecting people to nature.”