The Cook County Forest Preserves are a network of open spaces, containing forest, prairie, wetland, streams, and lakes, that are set aside as natural areas. Cook County contains Chicago, Illinois, and is the center of a densely population urban metropolitan area in northwestern Illinois. The Forest Preserves encompass approximately 68,000 acres (27,500 hectares) of open space within the urban surroundings of Chicago. Both the Brookfield Zoo (managed by the Chicago Zoological Society) and the Chicago Botanic Gardens (managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society) are located in the forest preserves. Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... The Brookfield Zoo is a zoo located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. ... Inside the Chicago Botanic Garden; view of a lake and different flora. ...

The Forest Preserves have a different purpose than parks, and they generally do not contain organized recreational facilities such as tennis courts or softball diamonds. They do contain hiking, cycling, and riding trails, as well as facilities for nature and group activities, and they are heavily used for picnicing. They are administered by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, a special taxation district that crosses municipal boundaries.

External Links

• Forest Preserve District of Cook County