Ask anyone who knows him well, and they’ll tell you that John Hoscheit is not a person who seeks the limelight.

But when you’ve done as much as Hoscheit has for the Kane County Forest Preserve District, open space preservation and county government in general, it’s probably not surprising that the limelight sometimes finds him.

That was the case this week, when the Kane County Forest Preserve Commission passed a resolution renaming Little Woods Forest Preserve in Hoscheit’s honor.

Hoscheit, who stepped down as Forest Preserve District president in December and was named Illinois Commissioner of the Year by the Illinois Association of Park Districts in January, was given another sort of lifetime-achievement award Tuesday with a resolution naming the 162 acres along Route 25 in St. Charles as “Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve.”

“Mr. Hoscheit called and asked me not to do this,” said Hoscheit’s successor, Forest Preserve District President Mike Kenyon. “He wanted us to know that he’s honored, but he doesn’t really think he deserves it.”

Kenyon said he might “take some heat” for renaming a Kane County forest preserve, but if so, it was heat he didn’t mind taking. Commissioner T.R. Smith pointed out that a few other forest preserves have been named after Forest Preserve presidents, noted local environmentalists and even the first employee of the Forest Preserve District, so “Hoscheit Woods” was appropriate and hardly precedent-setting.

The resolution passed unanimously and reads as follows:

Resolution Honoring John Hoscheit and Naming a Forest Preserve in His Honor

WHEREAS, John Hoscheit honorably and conscientiously served the citizens of Kane County in various elected and appointed positions with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County; and

WHEREAS, the current land acquisition program that has allowed the District to provide thousands of new acres of open space for the citizens of Kane County was under the leadership of John Hoscheit as President of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County; and

WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve District purchased a 162.62 acre property in 2011 known as Little Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County deem it fitting and proper to honor John Hoscheit by naming the Little Woods Forest Preserve in his honor.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County that the property known as Little Woods Forest Preserve, be and hereby is named: Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve.

The property was officially named “Little Woods Forest Preserve” on Aug. 14, 2012. Research has indicated this preserve was once within a prominent natural feature known as the “Little Woods.” The place names “Big Woods” and “Little Woods” likely originated from settlers in the 1830s, and were told to James Thompson and John Thompson, the first US Government land surveyors dispatched to this region. The original 1839-40 Government Land Office survey maps generated from the Thompson’s field surveys for the County clearly show two large and distinct woodlands east of the Fox River. It is easy to see why each section of “Timber,” as labeled on the maps, comprising Big Woods and Little Woods, were so named.

It is interesting to note that a region and settlement named Little Woods did exist in the northern portion of St. Charles Township, east into DuPage County, and it was recognized by name from at least 1842 until July 7, 1853, when the name was changed to Wayne.

Amenities for this property will be considered as part of the next Master Plan process.

SOURCE: Kane County Forest Preserve District