KNOCH KNOLLS NATURE CENTER Profile
The Naperville Park District’s nature center at Knoch Knolls Park has been in operation for ten years. This facility, which is free for the public to access and enjoy, 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, several interpretive signs and videos, numerous sustainable features including a living wall and rainwater collection cistern, two classrooms, public restrooms, and a deck overlooking the pond. Outdoor amenities include a permeable paver parking lot, multi-use trails, a nature playground, one large picnic area with grills and another large picnic area with a new pavilion featuring a functional fireplace and renovation of the existing firepit, plus an 18-hole disc golf course, and a canoe launch. 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 1 full-time employee, two part-time naturalists, a part-time front desk assistant and a seasonal intern. The budget for staffing the front desk can be found in the Customer Service Department. The center is open for visitors 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. 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 2024 the following programs continued to gain in popularity: Landscaping & Gardening Workshops, Family Nature Hikes, early childhood Nature Playtimes, Free Family Trees/Saplings, Youth Fishing, Nature themed camps and school field trips. In 2024 the District celebrated the Knoch Knolls Nature Center’s 10-year anniversary. This historic milestone marked the success of many nature programs and events including the Shred event, Nature Discovery Days, Naperville Plays, Pumpkin Smash, Creepy Critters Month plus a new collaboration with local organizations to create a film on freshwater mussels that premiered in March.
In 2024 onsite improvements included the addition of the digital, touch screen kiosk in the indoor exhibit area, additional hands-on exhibits, updated landscaping of several planted areas around the nature center and parking lot, plus the installation of a large pavilion in the Upper Grove. Additionally, a storage shed was added and minor nature center building repairs were completed in preparation for the 10-year anniversary celebration. The 2025 budget reflects a 16% ($6,374) increase in revenue over year end projections. A few new programs will be added, including additional camps, and a steady return of participants is expected. An increase in expenses is expected as well. Expenses reflect a 9% ($14,307) increase over the projected year end. This increase is a result of minimum wage increase adjustments and an increase in supply and contractor costs and wages to cover the additional programs. The Knoch Knolls Nature Center will continue to be a focal point for continued collaboration on environmental initiatives with other organizations including North Central College, The Conservation Foundation, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Forest Preserve District of Will County, the DuPage Children’s Museum, Naper Settlement and the Naperville Public Library.
2025 BUDGET 59
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