St. James improvements topic of open house

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will have an open house to allow residents to look over plans for improving St. James Farm Forest Preserve to get the facility ready for public use.

The open house will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 30, at the indoor riding arena at St. James. People attending the open house should park at the preserve's main lot on Winfield Road, just north of Butterfield Road in Warrenville.

Visitors will be able to review proposed improvements and designs that will bring the building up to code and allow the DuPage County Forest Preserve District to use the facility for equestrian and other recreational activities. Tentative plans call for upgrading the HVAC, electrical and lighting systems; adding restrooms, bleachers, fire alarms, sprinklers, and emergency lights and signs; and modifying doors, windows and skylights. District staff and design consultants will be available to answer questions.

"We are hoping these improvements will allow us to provide additional recreational opportunities for DuPage County residents," said Joe Cantore, forest district president.

The arena was built in 1969 by Brooks and Hope McCormick to accommodate their black-tie events and later served as the St. James Riding School for the Handicapped. When the forest preserve district took ownership of the property, the building was not up to code. It requires several life-safety and building-code improvements before the district can use it for public events and activities.

For information, call the district's planning department at (630) 933-7237.