The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will officially dedicate the Arlene Shoemaker Forest Preserve, Reckinger Road, ½ mile east of Farnsworth Avenue and south of 1-88, in Aurora, this Saturday, May 14, at 11 a.m.  In honor of Shoemaker’s past Forest Preserve District Presidency and many County contributions, the Commission will officially devote a preserve in her name.

The 98-acre Arlene Shoemaker Forest Preserve represents the best example of a White Oak prairie woodland swamp in Kane County. Most of this land is in the Indian Creek flood plain, and the Drummer and Wauconda soils have a high water table that was too difficult to drain for either agriculture or urban uses. Thus, it has survived as a system of meandering trapped pockets of tangled Buttonbush, Pagoda Dogwood and Common Bur Sedge, with spreading swamp White Oaks and Shagbark Hickories providing a canopy from the more elevated flats. The fallen logs in the water pockets serve as an interesting habitat for Clearweed and the rare Stalked Water Horehound, and this difficult to penetrate retreat has provided a home for all manner of birds and wildlife in the surrounding residential setting. This can be observed and enjoyed from the abutting prairie path and the limited trails and road skirting the edges.

The preserve was initially acquired in 1998. It was expanded in 1999 and 2000 with assistance from an OSLAD Grant.  The preserve abuts O’Donnell Elementary School and will provide a rich educational and recreational experience for the east Aurora area.  Plans for this preserve’s development will be presented at the Dedication.

Arlene Shoemaker was Forest Preserve District President from 1990-1992 having served as a Kane County Commissioner from 1982.  Shoemaker was instrumental in building an individual identity for the Forest Preserve District – separating it from other county departments.  Under her leadership, the District headquarters moved to a separate building on the government campus in Geneva.  She was also responsible for the development of the Tekakwitha Woods Nature Center which is the District’s hub for nature programs provided on sight as well as across the county. 

“Arlene Shoemaker can be credited for many advances in the District,” states Executive Director Monica A. Meyers.  “She evaluated preserves on the basis of public use and implemented projects intended to enhance user-friendliness.  The Les Arends Forest Preserve, for example, received changes under Shoemaker’s direction which began to pull or invite families in for the first time.” 

Shoemaker’s family history in Kane County is rich.  Ironically, the Shoemaker Forest Preserve is very near where her original ancestors settled in 1850.  Shoemaker’s great aunt lived on Felton Road, adjacent to the preserve.  The Luxemburg Family “Big Woods” was a large timber area sold to the Burlington Railroad.   

Shoemaker is widely known in Aurora.  Married at 19, she has 10 children, 20 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren – most who still reside in the area.  Her husband of nearly 56 years passed away this past January.  Her son John Shoemaker is an Aurora Township Trustee. 

She started at Waubonsee Community College the same time as her oldest daughter. She began to get involved in neighborhood issues including slumlords and the down-zoning movement of the 70’s which involved apartment licensing and inspections issues.   Retiring official Nancy Weiss asked Shoemaker to run for Kane County Commission in 1982.

The Dedication Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday.  Kane County Commissioner Gerald Jones as well as Forest Preserve District Staff will provide further background on Shoemaker and the preserve named in her honor.  Naturalists will provide interpretative hikes.  The event is free and open to the public.                                                            ###