Hawthorne Hill Nature Center in Elgin vying to have state’s only 2nd certified forest therapy trail

Elgin could soon have only the second certified forest therapy trail in Illinois.

The Elgin City Council last week approved a pair of memoranda of understanding with The Conservation Foundation and the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy that would allow the Hawthorne Hill Nature Center to undergo an evaluation potentially making it one of only 20 such trails nationally.

Certified forest therapy trails are designed to support slow-paced, sensory-driven wellness experiences rather than physical exercise or hiking. Currently, the only certified trail in Illinois is in Quincy.

Hawthorne Hill, which opened in 2005, began developing a forest therapy trail this year along the center’s lesser used east-side trail system.

David Schoenknecht, a naturalist at the center at 28 Brookside Drive near Randall Road and U.S. Route 20, said a therapy trail is a perfect fit for a park that is so close to two hospitals.

“Once we become certified, we’ll be a bona fide therapeutic location, but it's also something that somebody could do over lunch and just pop over here,” he said. “It gives anyone an opportunity to do things a little more mindfully.”

The trail will feature up to nine forest therapy installations designed to foster reflection, sensory awareness and emotional wellness.

The trail will support new self-guided wellness visits, structured recreational programming and educational field trips with a goal of becoming a regional destination for nature-based wellness.

The trail layout is designed to accommodate gentle gradients and resting nodes to ensure safe accessibility for families, seniors and individuals seeking restorative outdoor experiences.

Roughly 90% of the forest therapy trail uses existing, established paths. The project involves no tree removal or habitat disruption and improvements will focus on non-invasive trail maintenance, natural woodchip surfacing and unobtrusive cedar signage.

The assessment by the two organizations is expected to take three to six months. Final timelines and project costs will depend on the findings from The Conservation Foundation's certified site evaluation, which could dictate necessary trail modifications.

The final budget is to be funded through dedicated private donations. The two assessments for designating the trail come with no cost to the city.

rwest@dailyherald.com