Cook County 2014 picnic permits to be available online

The Forest Preserves of Cook County will begin selling 2014 picnic permits online and in-person on Thursday, Jan. 2.

New this year is an online permitting system, called ActiveNet, which allows residents to apply online for a variety of permits, including family and corporate picnics, walkathons and more.

Online sales will open at 8 a.m. Jan. 2 at www.fpdcc.com and be available 24 hours a day.

But take note: To reserve picnic groves and request event spaces either online or in-person, you must first set up an account at www.fpdcc.com/permits.

In-person sales will be from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, at the Forest Preserves of Cook County General Headquarters, 536 N. Harlem Ave., River Forest. Regular hours are Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Returning this year are extended peak hours. From May through August, hours will be Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

A picnic permit must be obtained by groups of 25 or more. Only two picnic permits per person or organization are allowed per year.

Permit prices vary based on the size of the group and the amenities brought into the groves.

Requests for permits for groups larger than 399 people will now be available online as of Jan. 13, and may still also be purchased in-person at the River Forest General Headquarters location.

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County sold 9,207 permits in 2013 (up from 8,446 permits in 2012.) Of those, 905 were issued on the first day.