Saturday, October 17, is the first day to purchase a picnic shelter permit for event dates in 2010 for any of 30 Lake County Forest Preserve picnic shelters. On this day, plan-ahead picnickers can apply for permits in person only from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Forest Preserve General Offices, 2000 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.
Access to the parking area will open at 6:30 a.m. Patrons may begin queuing outside the door once the parking area and access to the grounds are open. The General Offices building will open at 8 a.m. Patrons will be served in the order they are in line. Please be prepared to wait in line outside if you arrive before 8 a.m. Picnic shelter permits will be available via the Web site beginning at noon on Saturday, and will be available by phone beginning Monday, October 19, at 8 a.m.
Permit fees for Forest Preserve picnic shelters are based on group size and event date, and begin at $50 for Lake County residents and from $100 for non-residents. Accommodations for groups of 700 or more are arranged on an individual, contractual basis.
Any group wishing to reserve a picnic shelter is required to purchase a permit, as are any groups of 25 or more, regardless of whether a shelter is used. Picnic shelters are available at 10 different Lake County Forest Preserve locations: Fox River Preserve and Marina in Lake Barrington, Grant Woods in Fox Lake, Greenbelt near Waukegan and North Chicago, Half Day in Vernon Hills, Heron Creek in Long Grove, Lakewood in Wauconda, Nippersink in Round Lake, Old School in Libertyville, Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth and Independence Grove in Libertyville.
Lake County Forest Preserve picnic shelters are popular locations for baptisms, family reunions, wedding receptions, company picnics and other special events. Most Lake County Forest Preserve picnic shelters offer electricity, water, toilets and at least one permanent grill. Many have playgrounds, sports fields and trails nearby. |
