Glen Ellyn celebrates Public Lands Day

For Renae Frigo, getting outside and walking on trails is a part of her job.

At least once a month, Glen Ellyn Park District's naturalist leads a group of residents and park district volunteers through Churchill Park, cleaning brush and learning about the 23-acre park at 271 St. Charles Road.

But the walk and cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 25. will not be the typical one. In addition to educational and environmental work, a children's craft area and shrub planting will mark a program park officials hope turns into a signature event.

To commemorate National Public Lands Day, an eco-awareness day started in 1994, Glen Ellyn nature lovers will come together from 9 to 11 a.m. at Churchill Park to learn about the park and help remove trash. Frigo said the park district's choice of time and place were no accident.

"So many other organizations do things in the spring around Earth Day," Frigo said. "So we focused on a fall event. We thought we would focus and build awareness of this park."

The park is somewhat hidden at its location east of Bloomingdale Road. Frigo said events like Saturday's can help residents see some of the park district's lands that might not have the exposure others do.

Volunteers will be spreading wood chips, planting shrubs and collecting and harvesting native seeds. A guided nature walk will take place for adults.

Frigo said the goal is to help people understand the outdoors.

"Whether it's hiking or biking or doing stuff in nature, everybody is trying to get people more involved with natural resources," Frigo said. "Not everything (the park district does) is soccer. We are trying to get people to visit the places that are less-often visited. We have a lot of environmental issues in urban areas that people hear about. When you get outside and show it, they understand it a little better."