EAGLE PROJECT YIELDS HORSE SADDLE STANDS FOR ST. JAMES FARM

Arthur Alcantara, a member of St. Michael Boy Scout Troop 34 in Wheaton and a junior at St. Francis High School in Wheaton, completed his Eagle Scout Project. Arthur oversaw the construction of two portable, heavy duty, free standing horse saddle stands for St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville. St. James Farm, which was originally the retreat estate for the McCormick family, has an extensive horseback riding facility. The horse saddle stands will be used by children and adults to experience the feel of sitting on a horse and for those who may have fear of horses. The stands will be used extensively for therapeutic horse riding as well. This project required over 100 hours of research, organization, building and transporting of the horse saddle stands.

In 2007, the Forest Preserve officially took possession of the 612-acre St. James Farm in Warrenville. The Forest Preserve District will continue its work towards accomplishing many objectives of the St. James Farm Master Plan, as it transforms this once private estate into a place for conservation, education and recreation to be enjoyed by the public. The addition of two horse saddle stands will help the Forest Preserve achieve this mission.