The Forge: Lemont Quarries Focuses On Conservation, Preservation

LEMONT, IL — April 22 marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and one much-awaited Lemont business has had a large focus on its conservation efforts as it awaits opening to the community. The Forge: Lemont Quarries Adventure Park is expected to open this summer on its 300-acre property near the Lemont Heritage Quarries Recreation Area.

One of The Forge's values of its company is education. "In addition to promoting an active, outdoor lifestyle, our team is deeply dedicated to education, conservation, and restoration," its website states.

The Forge plans to offer summer camps, team-building activities and service opportunities.

“We felt strongly about creating an inclusive one-of-a-kind adventure park while remaining committed to conservation of the historical land that is so well-loved by the community,” said Jeremie Bacon, Co-Founder of The Forge: Lemont Quarries. “Our efforts to preserve, protect and restore the area so that it can be enjoyed by generations to come have only just begun.”

As The Forge has developed its property in the quarry area in Lemont, it has taken steps to beautify and care for the land, the company said. So far in its conservation efforts, The Forge has removed approximately 10 acres of invasive species (mostly honeysuckle and buckthorn); removed more than 60 cubic yards of garbage and debris from the land, including the removal of two abandoned cars.

Next, the company said it plans to reseed the area with native grasses, and it has targeted some areas for future native tree planting.

The business has also established a nonprofit organization, The Forge Charitable Adventures. According to a release, The Forge will continue its conservation efforts through its nonprofit, which is dedicated to restoring and preserving natural areas and open space, and promoting active stewardship of the environment.

The business said it has identified six pillar projects for the area, four of which will be completed by this summer. The remaining projects will be completed over a 4-year timeframe. The projects include public road improvements, a new pedestrian footbridge and access trail, improved public parking facilities, children's educational programming, invasive species remediation and trail restoration and development.