Forest Preserve begins renovations on historic buildings

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:08AM

In winter 2012, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County will begin renovations on three historic buildings: Eggers Grove Comfort Station (112th Street and Avenue E in Chicago), Dan Ryan Woods Warming Shelter (84th and Western in Chicago) and Thatcher Woods Pavilion (Thatcher and Chicago avenues in River Forest). All three structures were originally constructed in the early 1930s and are representative of the historical grandeur of the District.

Eggers Grove Comfort Station was built to serve the picnickers at Eggers Grove. The scope of the work is to rehabilitate the structure and re-open the facility to the public. Work includes making the building ADA compliant, replacing the roof and windows and cleaning the exterior of the building.

Dan Ryan Woods Warming Shelter was originally constructed as a warming shelter to serve ice skaters and people that sledded on the adjoining hill. The scope of this project is to rehabilitate the existing structure and to make it available to the public. The work includes making the building ADA compliant, adding insulation on the roof, installing new heating, ventilating and air conditioning as well as new doors and windows, updating the washrooms and small catering kitchen and general interior cleaning to make the facility more accommodating for small gatherings and meetings.

Thatcher Woods Pavilion was originally built to serve the picnickers at Thatcher Woods. The scope of this project is to rehabilitate two-thirds of the existing structure to make it available to the public. (The public washrooms — the other third — were previously remodeled in 2008.) The work includes making the building ADA compliant, adding insulation on the roof, installing new heating, ventilating and air conditioning as well as new doors, new windows,and adding a small catering kitchen to make the facility more accommodating for small gatherings and meetings.

Work on all three projects is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.

About the Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Established in 1914, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County is the oldest and largest forest preserve system in the nation, maintaining more than 68,000 acres of open land for the education, pleasure and recreation of the public. The District strives to protect and restore the county’s diverse ecosystems, so all our unique native plants and animals can live and thrive. Each year, more than 40 million people use these lands and facilities to enjoy or study nature, bicycle, hike, fish, cross-country ski, picnic, golf, canoe or simply relax in a large preserve that leaves urban life behind. For more information on the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, visit www.fpdcc.com.