Where does a Lake Forest ravine walk end when the path to the lake is closed? At the Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve this fall, it ends at a closure sign. Most of the season's outdoor activity has moved west, to preserves and event grounds far from the bluff.
That shift is worth understanding, because it is not a one-weekend detour. The work behind the closure has a timeline that reaches into next fall.
What is closed at Greene, and what the crews are building
The Greene preserve covers 61 acres and contains three ravines: McCormick Ravine, Deromedi Ravine and part of Janes Ravine. In a normal year, its trails, including an all-access trail to Duckworth Point, give walkers year-round access to Lake Michigan. Since Tuesday, July 28, the shoreline and beach access have been closed, and Lake Forest Open Lands' preserve page says the closure runs "through the fall."
The closure has already outlasted its first estimate. Lake Forest Open Lands' June project page said access would close "starting in mid-July through the end of summer." The October 2026 issue of the group's newsletter, The Buzz, says portions of the preserve remain closed. It asks visitors to watch for trail closure signs because "large equipment will be in the parking lot and accessing trails throughout the year." No reopening date has been published.
The project is called COAST. According to Lake Forest Open Lands, the physical work includes:
- Repairing failing stormwater infrastructure at Sheridan Road
- Stabilizing 900 feet of ravine channel with natural, plant-based methods
- Restoring native habitat along 500 linear feet of bluff plus nearshore areas
- Keeping the beach footprint usable by the public
The same list also covers monitoring plants, wildlife, water flow and shoreline stability, along with community engagement and sharing lessons learned.
NOAA's project summary lists federal funding of $5,750,639. The grant came through NOAA's Office for Coastal Management under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program developed the proposal with Lake Forest Open Lands.
Timing is the key part for anyone planning walks. WTTW reported in February that most of the heavy construction should be finished by fall 2027, with the team moving to monitoring by 2028. Fall 2026 is the first of probably two autumns shaped by this project.
Mellody Farm carries most of the season
If the lakefront has an inland stand-in this fall, it is Mellody Farm Nature Preserve. Lake Forest Open Lands lists it at 58 acres with 1.7 miles of trails and on-site parking. The group calls it "the natural hub for all programs within our organization." One rule matters for many households: the preserve page lists "No Dog walking allowed."
The October newsletter shows how full the program calendar is. Family Campfires run on Fridays, October 23 and 30, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The Out Together Fall Campfire follows on Wednesday, October 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The adult Tuesday on the Trail series starts October 27 and runs from noon to 1:00 p.m.
The biggest Mellody Farm date comes in November. Take a Hike to Honor our Veterans is set for Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. It includes guided hikes of Mellody Farm, crafts, games and a light snack. The event is free, but registration is required. The partners at last year's event included Trickster Cultural Center and American Legion McKinlock Post #264.
West of Green Bay Road, a bridge with an 1887 origin
For a longer walk, the Skokie River Nature Preserve is Lake Forest Open Lands' oldest and largest preserve. It is a mix of woodland, savanna, prairie and sedge meadow, and enough of it is high-quality prairie that the whole holding is part of the Illinois Nature Preserve system. To get in, park at the west end of Laurel Avenue, west of Green Bay Road. Then walk the bike path across the bridge to the wood-chip trail on the right.
The preserve's best-known feature is its swinging bridge. Its history starts in 1887, when Howard Van Doren Shaw bought 50 acres behind Green Bay Road and built the home known today as Ragdale. He put a concrete bridge over the Skokie River. A wooden swinging bridge replaced it in the early 1940s after the river was channelized, and the current version was restored and reopened in December 2008.
That history connects to the calendar. The City of Lake Forest lists the Lake Forest Preservation Symposium for October 16 through 18. It opens with "Friday at Ragdale" at 2 p.m. on the 16th, continues with "Preservation in Conversation" on the 17th, and ends with Community Heritage Day on the 18th. A Saturday morning on the Skokie River trails fits easily around the middle session.
Middlefork Savanna, run by the Lake County Forest Preserves, adds more hiking trails and is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to sunset.
The lake is still reachable at Forest Park Beach
You can still reach Lake Michigan on foot this fall at Forest Park Beach. Lake Forest Parks & Recreation describes it as a 29-acre park that is open year-round, with sheltered pavilions, a fishing pier and walking paths. Park hours are 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Lifeguards worked weekends only through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, and the concession stand runs only in summer. Expect the paths and the pier, not the summer setup.
The late-October calendar, in order
With Greene's lake edge closed, the season's outdoor dates cluster in the second half of October. The sources below list the following:
| Date | Event | Where / time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | Movie in the Park, E.T. | Deerpath Golf Course, 6:30 p.m. | City calendar |
| Fri to Sun, Oct 16 to 18 | Lake Forest Preservation Symposium | Starts at Ragdale, 2 p.m. Friday | City calendar |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Oktoberfest and Family Fall Happy Hour | 5 p.m. | City calendar |
| Wed, Oct 21 | Pre-order deadline, native plant sale | Online | Lake Forest Open Lands |
| Fri, Oct 23 | Wicked Wonderland; Family Campfires | 5 p.m.; 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. | City calendar; Lake Forest Open Lands |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Native plant sale; Elawa Farm Fall Fest | See below | Lake Forest Open Lands; Elawa Farm |
| Tue, Oct 27 | Tuesday on the Trail begins | Noon to 1:00 p.m. | Lake Forest Open Lands |
| Wed, Oct 28 | Out Together Fall Campfire | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Lake Forest Open Lands |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Trick-or-treat hours | Begin 4 p.m. | City calendar |
Saturday, October 24 has two events back to back
October 24 is the busiest day of the stretch, and its events fit together if you take them in order:
- 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Fall Native Tree, Shrub & Plant Sale. Lake Forest Open Lands holds this at The Nagel Campus for Open Lands. It offers native trees, shrubs and plants, with wildflower pints sold the day of the sale. Pre-orders close Wednesday, October 21.
- 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Elawa Farm Fall Fest. Plans include caramel apple decorating, tarot readings, aura photography, hot cider and visits with the farm animals. Admission is free, and some activities, food and drinks cost extra.
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wellness Skills Lab for ages 9 to 10. This Lake Forest Open Lands program overlaps both events, so families with kids in that age group may need to choose.
The plant sale opens an hour before Fall Fest and the two overlap until 1 p.m., so both fit in one Saturday morning.
The season's last city date is the Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration on November 27, from 3 to 6 p.m., listed on the Parks & Recreation calendar. Lake Forest Open Lands had not published a reopening date for Greene's shoreline as of its October newsletter.
Lyn Wise Group follows projects like COAST because a restored lakefront preserve changes what living near the bluff looks like over the next two years. If you own near Greene or Forest Park Beach and want to understand how the 2027 completion timeline fits your plans, request a Home Valuation & Market Plan and we will walk you through it.
