Lyman Woods Nature Center

Reverend Orange Lyman, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife Marcia Dewey Lyman, came to Downers Grove from Ohio in 1839. They settled in a log cabin on 600 acres that included what is now known as Lyman Woods. They built a new home in 1839 that is still standing at 806 Maple Avenue and is the oldest home in Downers Grove. The Reverend and his wife were abolitionists and the home is rumored to have been part of the Underground Railroad.

Reverend Lyman's son, Henry, inherited the homestead in 1851 and used the land to breed cattle and sheep. Henry's wife, Lovancia Pease was one of the earliest suffrage advocates in this area. Henry's son, Walter C. Lyman, inherited the homestead and cared for his mother until her death. He married Jesse Woodford, a librarian, naturalist, wildflower preservationist, and poet. Walter was a pioneer in beekeeping in Illinois, and was awarded the only prize for honey at the Columbian Exposition in 1893. The Lymans had a great love for nature and the oak woods, especially the wildflowers that thrive under the centuries-old oaks.

Jesse Woodford Lyman lived at the homestead after Walter died in 1926 at the age of 72. She felt strongly about the continued preservation of the old oak woods, and before her death she entrusted Lyman Woods to George Williams College. George Williams College preserved the land as part of the campus until they faced financial difficulties in the mid-1980s. The campus was sold to Midwestern University, but what is now known as Lyman Woods was put up for sale in 1986.

The community was concerned about the future of Lyman Woods, and efforts to encourage the preservation of Lyman Woods were led by Friends of Lyman Woods. In a Village poll, 62% of residents felt that Downers Grove should participate in the preservation of Lyman Woods. However, the proposition was defeated at a Village Council meeting. Residents appealed to the Village Council members, who reconsidered and finally approved the joint purchase of 81.5 acres with the Downers Grove Park District and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in a 3-2 vote. The land was preserved as a natural area in 1987.\

In the mid-90s, community activists worked to preserve additional property at the corner of Highland Avenue and 31st Street, north of what was then Lyman Woods. The land had previously been a wooded residential area and had been purchased by Town and County Homes. Town and Country intended to build a town home development and an office complex on the land. A professional ecologist was hired to study and document the importance of this north parcel of land as a buffer to the Lyman Woods preserve.

On March 19, 1996, the residents of the Downers Grove Park District passed the referendum to save "Downers' Last Grove" by just 12 votes out of over 14,000 votes cast. Over the following years, additional parcels were purchased by the Park District and/or the Forest Preserve District and added to the preserve, supported by the activism of Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance.

In 2003, with the assistance of the Forest Preserve District, an environmentally friendly Interpretive Center was built in the north addition to Lyman Woods. Through an on-going aggressive restoration plan, the Downers Grove Park District is working to restore the preserve to pre-settlement condition.

AN ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDING

Designed by Teng & Associates and constructed in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center at Lyman Woods is a 2,500 square foot building modeling green building materials and practices.

Site Selection

The northern third of the Lyman Woods preserve was at one time a wooded subdivision of 38 home sites. The Interpretive Center was strategically placed in the footprint of one of the homes to take advantage of existing utilities and a previously disturbed site, minimizing disturbance of the higher quality areas of the preserve. The low-profile building and prairie-planted green roof helps the building blend in with the natural terrain, and the building was oriented to maximize a southern exposure and solar gain. The parking lot and floor plan of the building were minimized to decrease disturbance and the resources needed to build and maintain the facility.

Building Materials

Materials include recycled exterior wall panels made by James Hardie(C). The building is framed with recycled steel supports and joists, and the floors are made of recycled concrete or low-VOC tiles made with recycled content. All paint in no-VOC paint and furniture used in the building is re-purposed from other offices, or made of recycled or salvaged materials.

Energy Saving

Lighting throughout the building is energy efficient, with fluorescent or LED fixtures, and the heating and cooling systems are zoned and programmable so that only occupied spaces are heated or cooled. Each room except the restrooms have operable windows to provide natural light as well as natural ventilation. The toilets and sinks are equipped with motion sensors and water-saving fixtures to conserve water.

Green Roof

Perhaps the most visually striking feature of the Interpretive Center is the rooftop prairie. The green roof provides structural protection from winds, hail and UV radiation, improves insulating value, helps improve air quality, and reduces storm water run-off. Any rain that is not absorbed by the plants on the roof is collected in rain barrels on the front of the building and used for tasks like watering plants.

The four-layer green roof system includes (from the bottom-up): a waterproof roof cap made of recycled tires, a drainage mat that directs all water not absorbed by the soil or plants to the downspouts that lead to the rain barrels, a root reinforcement layer, and a 5-inch layer of lightweight and porous soil. The native plants selected for the green roof are naturally found on hilltop prairies, so they thrive in hot, dry environments and can adapt to grow in a thin layer of soil.

Butterfly Garden

From Serviceberry to Sneezeweed, the native plants used in landscaping around the Interpretive Center provide habitat and food for wildlife and blend with the native plants throughout the preserve. Native plants, once established, require minimal maintenance and watering, and attract native wildlife that depend on the plants for food and shelter. The butterfly garden, certified as a Conservation at Home site by The Conservation Foundation, is planted with nectar producing flowering plants and butterfly host plants, including several species of milkweed. The garden attracts countless butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, moths and other beneficial insects. Demonstration gardens around the center exhibit native plants and shrubs that homeowners can use in their own yards.

Rain Garden

Rain gardens, designed to hold water until it percolates into the ground, are planted with water-loving sedges, reeds, buttonbush, gentians and milkweed. Storm water that falls on the parking lot and sidewalks near the Interpretive Center drains to the rain gardens. Rain gardens help filter polluted water, decrease run-off and erosion, and recharge the water table.

Green Housekeeping

A green building is not truly green without a green housekeeping program. A nature center can be a muddy place, so floors and surfaces that can be easily cleaned without harsh chemicals were chosen for the Interpretive Center. Environmentally sensitive cleaners and soaps that are non-toxic, biodegradable and petroleum-free are used in the Interpretive Center. All paper and plastic products purchased for use at the Interpretive Center are made of recycled materials and are reused or recycled. In addition to reusing and recycling, the Interpretive Center has an outdoor compost area for landscaping waste and an indoor vermicomposter for kitchen waste. A green housekeeping program helps ensure the health of our planet as well as the health of our visitors and program participants.

R.E.A.P. and Volunteering

Join our REAP (Restore, Educate and Preserve) volunteer group at Lyman Woods and Belmont Prairie. Activities may include collecting and sowing native seed, restoring trails, planting native plants and removing invasive plants. Please contact Lyman Woods at lymanwoods@dgparks.org or 630.963.9388 for more information.

Learn more

Don't let the snow slow you down! Stop by for a pair of snowshoes at Lyman Woods and get out there to enjoy the winter woods! When there are at least four inches of snow on the trails, both adult and children's snowshoes will be available for use at Lyman Woods. Snowshoes are available during regular Interpretive Center hours on a first-come, first-served basis. Available for individuals, larger groups and snowshoeing programs.

snowshoeing status