Due to regional fireworks displays being scheduled on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, and a concern that the public will want to gather in the forest preserves after they are closed at sunset, the Forest Preserve District of Will County will be closing a few sites early to prevent people from congregating in large groups.

Forest Preserve police will begin closing the following preserves beginning at 3 p.m. on these dates:

Friday, July 3

  • Isle a la Cache in Romeoville
  • Keepataw Preserve in Lemont
  • Lake Renwick Preserve – Turtle Lake Access in Plainfield
  • Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve in Lockport
  • Prairie Bluff Preserve in Crest Hill
  • Veterans Woods in Romeoville

Saturday, July 4

  • Rock Run Preserve – Black Road Access in Joliet
  • Rock Run Preserve – Paul V. Nichols Access in Joliet
  • Riverview Farmstead Preserve in Naperville
  • Vermont Cemetery Preserve in Naperville

Keepataw Preserve and Veterans Woods may also be closed on July 4 if police find that conditions warrant it.

The decision to close some preserves early is in keeping with phase four of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan, which limits the number of people that may gather.

“We certainly want people to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday,” explained Ralph Schultz, chief operating officer for the Forest Preserve District. “However, we also want them to continue to take the proper precautions to keep themselves and others healthy.”