MCCD unveiling plans for new visitor center

McHenry County Conservation District officials will unveil plans for a $5 million renovation of the Glacial Park Conference Center at a public viewing later this month.

The viewing will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the district's Brookdale Administrative Office, 18410 Route 14, Woodstock.

The plan will guide renovation of a 28,450-square-foot facility within the 3,200-acre park near Ringwood.

It calls for the creation of a visitor center with areas for exhibits, classrooms, a conference center and multipurpose rooms.

The district also hopes to make the facility a regional center for the study of natural resources, using it to house its natural resources department, environmental education staff and a research field station.

The plan calls for the use of green technology as part of the renovation, including geothermal heating and cooling.

Located west of Route 31 between Ringwood and Richmond, Glacial Park features six miles of hiking trails, four miles of horse trails and fishing and canoeing on Nippersink Creek. the park gets about 64,000 visitors annually.