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| Our History |
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Our History: Wildlife Prairie Park began in the late 1960's when the Forest Park Foundation established a working relationship with the Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo to use some Foundation land as an endangered species breeding farm and rest area. The idea was abandoned when the Brookfield Zoo became involved in a major renovation and management change. The plan was then to use the land to create a park where the animals could live some-what freely. Among others, Marlin Perkins agreed with our idea that it be only for native Illinois animals. Very few parks had been built around similar themes, wintering the animals would be easier and it would better portray Illinois' natural history.
From that point on, the Park began to evolve into what it is today. Extensive construction work was begun. As often as possible, recycled materials were used to reduce costs and to save resources as much as possible. Some of the recycled materials used in the building of the Park are the bricks in the patio near the Visitor Center and at the Train Depot, the old whiskey barrels used as refuse containers, the re-sawn timbers in the buildings and the many telephone poles used in the gates and bridges throughout the Park. Many of the bridges and habitats had to be built totally by hand to protect the natural foliage. Throughout its construction, the Park has had three purposes: these are to conserve; to educate about conservation, wildlife and many other resources; and to provide a place where this can be accomplished while having fun. The Park continues to work toward these goals. The Park opened for the first time in the fall of 1978 for six weeks. On September 5, 2000 William Rutherford Jr. presented the deed to Wildlife Prairie State Park to Governor George Ryan. Shortly thereafter, Wildlife Prairie Park became The Hazel & Bill Rutherford Wildlife Prairie State Park.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 10 March 2008 ) |
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