Johnson’s Mound Scenic Drive, Parking Lot to Get a Makeover
For many of us who have walked and driven the steep, scenic drive of Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve over the years, there are few Kane County paths that carry so many fond memories.
The Kane County Forest Preserve Commission on Tuesday (March 8, 2016) voted to spend a little more than $111,000 to make sure it’s a smooth and pleasant drive for years to come.
The commission previously had approved $150,000 in the 2015/2016 budget to resurface the roadway at the Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve.
The road at the Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve is about 20 years old. Over the past three years, the woodland loop asphalt road has started to degrade, and staff has spent many hours cold patching the road to keep it safe and passable, the Forest Preserve District said in its summary of the project.
According to the report, the original road was built with insufficient road base, so the asphalt surface is breaking down and is in need of repaving. The roadway through the woodland is heavily used spring through fall and is an especially popular drive for patrons to enjoy the spring wildflower bloom. It also serves as access to Shelter 3 and emergency access for the sled hill in the winter months. The roadway is closed in the winter season due to sled hill use and the steep inclines of various areas of the roadway.
The base bid road resurfacing project includes grinding the asphalt and leaving the material in place as additional base and then resurfacing with 2 inches of asphalt. The lot will be excavated, reconfigured and resurfaced. The resurfacing of the parking lot will meet all current American Disabilities Act requirements and specifications.
Bids were sent out to 19 vendors with six responding. The lowest qualified bidder is Schroeder Asphalt Inc. of Huntley, IL with a base bid of $77,689 and $33,738 for the parking lot, for a total bid price of $111,427.
SOURCE: Kane County Forest Preserve District
About Johnson’s Mound
Johnson’s Mound is a heavily wooded classic example of a stratified gravel hill known as a “kame”, which was deposited by glacial ice and water some 10,000 years ago. This kame is a prominent feature on our mid-county landscape, rising 50 feet above the surrounding tributaries of Blackberry Creek and the glacial outwash plain.
Much of the woods here is of nature preserve quality and there is a serenity in the deep woods that offers a special “get away from it all”, feeling for those wanting a quiet walk in the woods. Outside the woods is an open sledding hill, a five (5) acre mowed recreational area and a cabin on the edge, which is used for small gatherings.
The preserve was expanded in the 80’s by adding some open fields on the north, where woodland and prairie restorations are underway and a prominent FBI tower is in this area. It is important not to try to add too many other features or activities here for there is a danger of losing the important peace and solitude for incidental or trivial improvements.
Johnson’s Mound is located on Hughes Road, approximately 1 mile west of Fabyan Parkway. This site is a hill rising some 200 feet above the rolling prairie around it.
About the Forest Preserve District of Kane County
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County acquires, holds and maintains land to preserve natural and historic resources, habitats, flora and fauna. The district restores, restocks, protects and preserves open space for the education, recreation and pleasure of Kane County citizens. For more information, visit the district’s website or find them on social media via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Also, sign up for the quarterly TreeLine Newsletter.
