New lease on life for 'Pate' park

After years of being the red-headed stepchild of state parks, the future of James "Pate" Philip State Park future is guaranteed -- until November 2012.

DuPage County Forest Preserve District leaders today signed off on a five-year operating agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Bartlett Park District.

The three agencies will share responsibilities and funding for the park, in Bartlett at the junction of DuPage, Kane and Cook counties.

The park, known formerly as Tri-County State Park, was farmed for years, but originally consisted of prairie and wetlands that is slowly being restored.

It opened in 2003 with a $1 million state grant but that money ran out in 2005. Since then, the park has been kept open with a series of short-term operating agreements.