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Parks and nature
Lansing is home to a large number of parks that are managed by the Lan-Oak Park District, a branch of local government separate from the Village Board. In addition, we are part of a larger community that includes Cook County Forest Preserves and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. All these entities develop programs that are a resource for residents who are interested in outdoor activities, climate, environment, and animals that surround us and impact community life.
750,000 pounds of carp removed from Illinois River
A 10-day intensive harvest operation in the Starved Rock pool of the Illinois River resulted in 750,000 pounds of silver carp being removed.
Agenda: Lan-Oak Park District Board meeting – 12/18/23
The Lan-Oak Park District Board meets to discuss and make decisions regarding recreational parks and programs in Lansing. Agendas...
Local Sierra Club to present ‘Food Waste and Composting Solutions’
The club will present a program at their December meeting that highlights two practical steps for doing so: reducing food waste and practicing composting....
Sand Ridge Nature Center’s Heritage Day will teach about land, people, and industry of Calumet area
Sand Ridge Nature Center will celebrate the heritage of the Calumet Historic Region on November 18 with its Sand Ridge Heritage Day event...
Agenda: Lan-Oak Park District Board meeting – 11/13/23
The Lan-Oak Park District Board meets to discuss and make decisions regarding recreational parks and programs in Lansing. Agendas...
Video: Keemo Supremo and Gnarly Jargon talk skating at Lansing’s new skate park
Members of Lansing's skateboard community and the surrounding region have been skating and biking at the new skate park....
Local Sierra Club to present ‘Visiting the Grand Canyon’
The program will feature the stories and photos of Sauk-Calumet members Christy Mazrimas-Ott, Gregg Ott, Dorelle Ackerman, and Lois Lauer, who travelled to the Grand Canyon in the past year. The group experienced
Local Sierra Club to host ‘Birding in the Fall’
Sierra Club’s Sauk-Calumet Group will host a hybrid in-person/Zoom meeting on Monday, October 9, beginning at 7:15 p.m....
Thornton resident earns second place in Brookfield Zoo photography contest
Over 700 photos to Brookfield Zoo's photo contest. One of those was submitted by Steven DeYoung, a resident of Thornton...
Agenda: Lan-Oak Park District Board meeting – 9/18/23
Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Eisenhower Center
All residents are welcome to attend meetings of the Park District Board of Commissioners. The Board...
Agenda: Lan-Oak Park District Board meeting – 8/21/23
The Lan-Oak Park District Board meets to discuss and make decisions regarding recreational parks and programs in Lansing...
Video: What will the new skate park bring to Lansing?
In the video below, Cameron Jones gives a tour of Lansing's skate park and a timeline of his crew's work. He also breaks open the skateboarder stereotype...
Labor Day bike ride and nature walk returns to Wolf Lake
The bi-state Labor Day Bike Ride will be held Monday, September 4, at this year’s 20th annual Active Living Faire...
75 local youth graduate from forest preserves summer jobs program
A summer of learning, outdoor exploration, and service culminated last week in a graduation ceremony for 75 Cook County youth at Wampum Lake...
Submissions now open for annual Forest Preserves photo contest
The Forest Preserves of Cook County are again accepting submissions for its annual photo contest...