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St. James Farm arena targeted for improvements

A plan to renovate and expand an indoor riding arena at St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville could make it possible for the structure to be used for a variety of programs, including day camps, trade shows and wedding receptions.

DuPage County Forest Preserve District commissioners on Tuesday morning are expected to authorize spending up to $89,000 to hire an architectural firm — Cordogan Clark and Associates Inc. — to do an assessment of the more than 13,000-square-foot arena, which is scheduled to be the first of several buildings on the site opened to the public.

The forest preserve district bought St. James Farm from philanthropist and conservationist Brooks McCormick in 2000 for $43 million. The district took possession of the more than 600-acre property along Winfield Road after McCormick's death in 2006.

Even though the property is open to forest preserve users, residents aren't yet able to spend time inside the site's historic buildings, including stables and the indoor horse arena.

“We've got a gem in the middle of the county that's providing all sorts of recreation for the citizens of DuPage County,” forest preserve President Joe Cantore said.

Cantore said the goal is to open several of the preserve's buildings to the public. “We want people to be able to use them,” he said.

To make that possible, the site needs drinking water. In addition, building code issues must be addressed before the structures can be occupied.

Kevin Horsfall, the district's manager of planning, said the district is working to bring water and sewer service sometime next year to St. James Farm.

Meanwhile, the architectural assessment of the indoor riding arena will help district officials determine what renovations must be done to bring the structure up to code.

Built in 1969, the arena was used mostly for horse riding and training during inclement weather. However, forest preserve officials are going to consider design options that would make it possible for the structure to be used for more than just equestrian activities.

“There are plans as part of this to add an addition,” Horsfall said. “How big of an addition is something we're going to explore because we're going to look at multiple uses.”

For example, the structure could end up being used for archery classes, native plant sales, day camps, trade shows and banquets.

Several commissioners said they would like to explore the possibility of having wedding receptions there.

“St. James Farm is a beautiful venue for weddings,” Commissioner Linda Painter said. “The only problem currently with St. James Farm is if it rains, there's nowhere to go. At least this provides a backup so, hopefully, more people will be willing to have weddings at St. James Farm.”

The project would add public washrooms that would be available year-round.

The earliest the project could start is late 2016, officials said. The work wouldn't be completed until the end of 2017.

  The public currently isn't allowed to enter the indoor riding arena at St. James Farm Forest Preserve near Warrenville. That's expected to change after the DuPage County Forest Preserve District makes structural improvements and repairs to the structure. Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
  Residents can't enter the structures at St. James Farm Forest Preserve because the site near Warrenville needs drinking water and building code issues must be addressed. Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
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