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Lincolnshire Parks

Florsheim Nature Preserve, North Park, and Old Mill Woods Additions

Address: Farrington Road

The Village owns and protects approximately 110 acres of dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves.

In 1985, Harold and Sarabel Florsheim donated a 40 acre parcel of land to the Village. The original parcel has grown to approximately 110 acres and has been dedicated as Illinois Nature Preserves!

In 1999, the Village purchased a 62.5 acre parcel for the construction of North Park. 35 acres of the site were set aside as an addition to Florsheim (North Park Addition). In 2003, Kenneth James Builders donated an additional 32 acres to the Florsheim Nature Preserve (Old Mill Woods Addition).

In 1995, an inventory was conducted of the natural features at Florsheim Nature Preserves. It was determined that the area has a Floristic Quality Index (FQI) rating of 82.01. The FQI is a scientific formula to determine the relative native quality of a site. The formula was developed at the Morton Arboretum by Gerould Wilhelm and Linda Masters. Mr. Wilhelm has stated "Remnant areas with FQI values approaching 60 or higher are very rare, and occupy a minute fraction of the remaining vegetated land surface of our region." The Natural Area Assessment directed the Village that "this is an extremely high rating and the site deserves the most serious attention to its conservation and management as a natural area."

Another important component of the Nature Preserves is the unique and rare ecosystems which exist there. The North Park addition has rare "flatwoods". The Old Mill Woods addition has a buttonbush wetland and Florsheim has rare sedge meadow and wet mesic prairie. All have mature oak/hickory woodlands with a variety of state and federally threatened or endangered plants.

A number of international and nationally recognized scientific organizations visit Florsheim Nature Preserves and its additions every year to study rare native plants and habitat.

A path system has been installed throughout the site. Access points for the paths are located at North Park, Florsheim and Old Mill Woods. Interpretive signs have been installed along the paths to explain the rare ecosystems and management techniques utilized to keep the preserves in pristine condition.

Park amenities include:

• ADA Accessible Path
• Trail System
• Interpretive Signs
• Small Parking Lot

Because of the rare and unique nature of these sites and the protection provided by the State of Illinois as Dedicated Nature Preserves there are restrictions on the use of the preserves to protect their enjoyment for all in perpetuity.

Rules of the Nature Preserves

• Hiking and cross country skiing are allowed on the paths throughout the preserves.
• Preserve visitors are to stay on the paths.
• Picnicking is not allowed.
• Pets are not allowed.
• No motor vehicles are allowed.
• No fishing or hunting is allowed.
• It is illegal to take anything into or from the nature preserves.
• Bicycles are not allowed.