Greene Barn welcomes picknickers for July 4 celebration

Picnic tables at the Greene Barn at Hobson and Greene roads in Naperville welcome visitors to enjoy a quiet, rural Fourth of July setting. A grand U.S. flag is displayed on the largest barn in DuPage County.

Visitors can reach the barn by entering the parking lot on Greene Road and driving to the north side of the lot behind the barn, or on the Southern DuPage Regional Trail.

Local residents Rachel Jenness, Britney Toussaint, Becky Simon and Mary Lou Wehrli have been working in cooperation with the forest preserve district to bring attention to this cultural asset so that one day the 14,000-square-foot timber frame barn will be open for public use. Add your voice through a survey at dupageforest.org.

"The barn is a stunning reminder of hope and strength," Toussaint said.

"It sits above the East Branch of the DuPage River," Jenness said. "And is no stranger to celebrations. Bring your family picnic to the Greene Barn!"

The Greene Farmstead anchors the north end of the 1,388-acre Greene Valley Forest Preserve.

For information, call (630) 420-2282 or visit www.thegreenebarn.org, where you can also link to the group's Facebook and Instagram pages.