Title
Arbor Lake Park Restoration Project - Phase 1
History
Arbor Lake Park is located northeast of the intersection of Will-Cook Road and Oak Hill Drive, just south of the Arbor Pointe subdivision and west of the Doctor Marsh Prairie Path. The site was acquired by the Open Lands Commission in 2002 and rezoned in 2025 to the Open Space District. This zoning designation is intended to protect parks, natural areas, retention ponds, detention basins, civic and fraternal non-profit organizations, and open space corridor connections.
Arbor Lake Park is considered a “passive” park, as it does not include playground or athletic facilities. Instead, the site is defined by its natural areas, walking paths, gardens, and fishing opportunities. The northern portion of the park is the most developed area and includes a wooden pergola, wishing well, native gardens, and walking paths. Maintenance staff currently access the site via a narrow pull-off along Will-Cook Road, while park visitors typically utilize on-street parking along Oak Hill Drive.
Public Works staff and Village landscape and mowing contractors actively maintain the site. In addition, a dedicated local volunteer has, over the past several years, undertaken significant efforts to beautify and enhance the park. Building upon these efforts, Public Works and Hey and Associates have been working collaboratively to develop a comprehensive ecological restoration plan to bring the site in line with Village standards for natural area stewardship. It should also be noted that Arbor Lake will be placed under an aquatic weed stewardship program beginning in 2026.
Phase 1 of the Arbor Lake Park Restoration Project primarily focuses on the removal of invasive species, including pear trees and buckthorn, that have overtaken the northern portion of the site. This phase is intended to open sightlines into the park and increase public awareness of the site and its natural amenities. The Phase 1 plan was developed collaborat...
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