Cook forest preserve district selling picnic permits

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County will begin selling 2012 picnic permits online and in person on Tuesday, Jan. 3. In-person sales will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Forest Preserve District of Cook County General Headquarters, 536 N. Harlem Ave., River Forest. Normal hours for in-person sales are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Online sales will also open at 8 a.m. on Jan. 3 at fpdcc.com and will remain open available 24 hours a day. 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 available at the grove. Permits for groups larger than 399 people must be purchased in-person at the River Forest General Headquarters location. In 2011, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County sold 8,122 permits, with 1,044, 13 percent of them, issued on the first day. More than 1 million people participated in permitted picnics held at Forest Preserve District groves in 2011. The most popular groves for picnics in 2011 were: Dan Ryan, Chicago; Schiller Woods, Chicago/Schiller Park; Bunker Hill, Chicago/Niles; and Busse Woods, Elk Grove Village/Rolling Meadows/ Schaumburg.