Outdoor Recreation
Quality of Life in Will County, IllinoisIf you are looking to explore the great outdoors, a variety of recreation opportunities, facilities and historic places await.
Will County, Illinois 37 Communities Parks & Recreation
Many of our 37 communities offer a variety of specialized parks and recreation for all ages and abilities.
Forest Preserve District of Will County
The Forest Preserve District is dedicated to protecting, conserving, enhancing and promoting Will County’s natural heritage for the educational, recreational and environmental benefit of present and future generations. The Forest Preserve provides 116 miles of interlinking trails that crisscross Will County and provide enjoyment to outdoor enthusiasts. These trails allow hikers, bicyclists, in-line skaters, joggers, equestrians, and cross-country skiers safe, scenic trails on which to exercise. Activities available at various parks include biking, boating, camping, canoeing, cross country skiing, fishing, ice skating, sledding, snow shoeing, jogging, running, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and in-line skating. In total more than 21,000 acres of land are owned and/or managed by the Will County Forest Preserve from the original 728 acres in the 1930’s.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the first national tallgrass prairie and, at 19,000 acres, the largest piece of contiguous open space in northeastern Illinois and home to a growing bison population. The herd was introduced at Midewin in 2015 as a 20-year experiment in restoring the landscape to native tallgrass prairie. The grazing of the herd reintroduces disturbance that is important to reviving and sustaining a more diverse habitat of native grasses for wildlife on 1,200 acres of non-native prairie area.
Joliet Kicks on Route 66
The Joliet area is steeped in history, rich in culture and heritage and more than anything, an area that has been showing people how to get their kicks for many years! The original purpose of Route 66 was to link towns with paved roads throughout main streets. This had very little impact on the Joliet area in the beginning. But as time moved on, so did Route 66. On November 11, 1926, Route 66 became part of local culture and the route chosen through Joliet was Chicago Street.
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