KNOCH KNOLLS NATURE CENTER Profile
The Naperville Park District’s nature center at Knoch Knolls Park has been in operation for eleven years. The facility, which is free to access, features indoor and outdoor educational exhibits and signage, a 900-gallon freshwater aquarium with native fish species, additional live animal exhibits including a snake, salamander, and turtle, and numerous sustainable features including a living wall and rainwater collection cistern, two classrooms, public restrooms, and a deck overlooking the pond. Outdoor amenities include multi-use trails, a nature playground, a large picnic area with grills, an 18-hole disc golf course, and a canoe launch. In 2024 another large picnic pavilion area with a functional fireplace and open air firepit was added to the upper grove. In addition, four outdoor mobile tours are offered for independent use by visitors any time the park is open. The Nature Center budget is comprised of revenues and expenses associated with administering the exhibit operation and programming. The budget consists of a full-time Nature Center Manager, two part-time naturalists, a part-time front desk assistant and a seasonal nature center assistant. The budget for staffing the front desk Monday- Friday can be found in the Customer Service Department section. The center is open to the public Monday through Saturday.
While the District’s nature preschool program is held at Knoch Knolls, all revenues and expenses associated with the preschool program are included within the Early Childhood program budget. The expenses for the maintenance of the facility can also be found within the Trades, Parks, Custodial and IT budgets. In 2025, the Nature Center program participation and facility visits continued to increase. The Nature Center is projected to end 2025 with a decrease in projected revenue by 3% ($1,187), compared to the current budget, along with a decrease in projected expenses by 4% ($6,396). The overall deficit for the facility is projected to be further reduced by 4% ($5,209) compared to budget. Nature Center programming is comprised of 7 areas: adult, family, youth, camp, scouts, schools field trips and special events. Program opportunities appeal to a variety of ages and are both free and fee based. In 2025, new drop-in Earth Day programming was added in April. Three more nature-themed camps and an extra session of Youth Fishing were also added. The following programs continue to gain in popularity: Landscaping & Gardening Workshops, Family Nature Hikes, early childhood Nature Playtimes, Free Family Trees/Saplings, Winter Craft Workshops, school field trips and the Take a
Hike! Challenge. Due to continued decreases in registration, the Family Campout has been retired and will be replaced with additional Family Hikes along with two fall craft workshops for children/ families. In 2025, onsite improvements included the exterior painting of the nature center plus repairs to Knoch Knolls Park trails. Interior improvements included the installation of two new lockable bookshelves and addition of replacement tables. The 2026 budget reflects a 14% ($6,245) increase in revenue over year end projections. A few new fee-based programs will be added, as mentioned above, and a steady return of participants is expected. An increase in expenses is expected as well. Expenses reflect an 8% ($13,527) increase over the projected year end. This increase is a result of the rising costs for supplies and wages. Lastly, the Knoch Knolls Nature Center will continue to be a focal point for continued collaboration on environmental initiatives with other local organizations including The Conservation Foundation, Forest Preserve Districts, the DuPage Children’s Museum, Naper Settlement and the Naperville Public Library.
2026 BUDGET 59
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