600 acres restored to native prairie in Hampshire

Back in the mid-1950s, Betty Solyom used to go to what is now Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve in Hampshire with the man that later became her husband.

“We were dating and he was a game biologist. We drove around the area counting rabbits and pheasants. I remember we even saw quail once,” she said. “It would be great to see quail again.”

Solyom, 99, of Elgin, attended Saturday's opening celebration of the 800-acre forest preserve, the newest addition to the Kane County Forest Preserve family. The event included nature hikes, horse-drawn wagon rides and a scavenger hunt.

About 600 acres were restored to their native prairie state, which will make it the perfect habitat for species of birds such as bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows, Henslow's sparrows and much more, said forest preserve natural resources director Drew Ullberg.

The land has undergone a major two-year renovation since the forest preserve bought it from the Muirhead family, said forest preserve executive director Monica Meyers.

For one, workers had to dismantle a large underground system of tile canals that settlers had created to drain the land. “Because this was farmed, you kind of had a clean slate to start from,” Meyers said.

Muirhead Springs features more than 4 miles of limestone trail for walking, biking and even horseback riding; interpretive signage; a picnic shelter with electricity and grill; and a parking lot that can accommodate equestrian trailers.

Julie Prezzia, of Plano, and her friend Kristin Grant took their children to Saturday's opening celebration.

Both said they were very impressed by what they saw. “It's very, very nice,” Prezzia said.

“We walked around and enjoyed being outside,” Grant said.