Youth camp site at Fox River Preserve gets short-term reprieve, but future uncertain

A youth camp site at Fox River Forest Preserve near Port Barrington will remain open for the time being but its long-term future is yet to be determined.

With the estimated cost of repairing a hand pump that supplies drinking water to the site exceeding the annual revenue from permit fees, Lake County Forest Preserve District staff has recommended it be closed permanently.

In the bigger picture, the expected operating and capital improvement costs for the property are not warranted by its limited use, according to the recommendation.

But the forest board's operations committee delayed a final decision on closing the Fox River camp site Monday while recommending that the pump be repaired. Commissioners said they want to learn whether forest preserve users care about camping and directed that question be included in the district's next attitude and interest survey.

“The bigger question is, 'Do we want campgrounds?'” said committee Chair Jessica Vealitzek of Hawthorn Woods.

The district previously provided three locations for youth group camping, until the campsite at the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda was removed as part of an ongoing master plan project. The others are at Fox River and Van Patten Woods near Wadsworth.

Both are considered “primitive” campgrounds in that facilities are limited. However, providing safe drinking water is required to obtain an Illinois Department of Public Health permit.

Repairing the hand pump to supply water at Fox River will cost between $3,000 and $5,000, said John Nelson, chief operations officer for the district. Long term, he added, there are several elements of the camp area that do not meet ADA accessibility standards and would require a significant investment to upgrade.

Use of the site been dropping in recent years, officials say. Excluding trail construction in 2014 and COVID in 2020 and 2021, the Fox River camp has averaged about 17 uses totaling about 440 people per year, amounting to $1,350 in annual revenue, according to Nelson.

Regardless of the decision on the Fox River site, the youth group camping area at Van Patten Woods will continue to operate, officials said.

Nelson said there also are a variety of other camping options in Lake, McHenry and Cook counties.

The district’s role and potential investment in camping facilities will be discussed after the survey results are in.