Van Patten Woods was Lake County’s first forest preserve, created in 1961 with a 162-acre purchase. In the 1970s the abandoned gravel pit that is now Sterling Lake was acquired. Mined from the 1930s through the mid-1970s, this area was deeply scarred. Major restoration that took place between 1989 and 1993 resulted in the safe and clean preserve we enjoy today.

The preserve is named in honor of David Van Patten, President of the Lake County Forest Preserves in 1960. The former gravel pit was once known as Vulcan Lake. Following a "name-the-lake" contest, it was renamed Sterling Lake in honor of Sterling Township, the previous name for Newport Township.
lcfpd.org/van-patten-woods

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Details

Informations

Elevation 170 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 18 December

9°C

-7°C

98 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 33.0 km/h

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Location: Lake County, Illinois, United States

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