Parks Department

Parks Department

Public Works: the Parks Department, Mike Koch, Supervisor (815)459-4833

Bull Valley Still Farm Dog Park —

The Village of Bull Valley maintains its off-leash dog park at the corner of Country Club and Bull Valley Roads. Under a cooperative agreement between the City of Woodstock and the Village, both Woodstock and Bull Valley residents within municipal limits of either the City of Woodstock or the Village of Bull Valley, are be entitled to purchase permits at the same resident rates. The seven acre park is open year around for your enjoyment. 

ANNUAL PERMITS: All permits will be issued on a first come first served basis. Permits require a rabies tag number and a photo of each dog being registered. Up to four dogs can be registered on an individual permit but only two registered dogs may be brought into the park under any permit at one time. Applicants can download their forms and dog park rules here or pick up forms at Village Hall. Completed applications can be mailed, emailed or dropped off at Village Hall. For information or to apply for a permit, please visit the Village of Bull Valley, 1904 Cherry Valley Road, during business hours, or contact the Village Clerk at bullvalley.villageclerk@gmail.com or 815-459-4833.

Directions Dog Park Application & Rules Dog Park: Apply Online

Still Farm Savannah Restoration Area —

The ten acres north of the dog park is a remnant Oak Savannah and has been under restoration by the Village since 2014 for public enjoyment through the inclusion of passive use walkways. The entrance to the walkways begins at the northwest corner of the dog park fence. Interpretive signs have been installed explaining the restoration progress. The area contains about twenty old established Oak trees and some Hickories. Restoration was launched in 2014 by a grant from ComEd’s Green Regions Program. During that first stage, invasive growth under key oaks was herbicided, the grounds were cleared of dead trees and fallen limbs and the first round of pruning to preserve the Oaks was done in March. Restoration efforts continued the following fall with more herbiciding and then seeding.

ARecently the restoration effort has been given new life by the volunteer efforts of two dedicated Park Stewards, who are planting the next generation of Oaks and introducing native pollinator species to the Oak understory as part of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, a program of the World Wildlife Federation. The public is invited to park by the Dog Park and take the path to view the restored area.

In order to protect the delicate seedlings, please keep all dogs on a leash and stay on the mowed paths when visiting the restoration area.

Thompson Road Preserve —

The Beginning — In September of 2020, a small group of local residents representing a variety of interests, formed the Thompson Road Farm Project (TRF) to acquire and protect the 324-acre farm located on Thompson Road west of the convergence of Thompson Road, Illinois Route 120 and Fleming Roads in McHenry County. 

With a combination of grants, private donations and a loan, the group, through its fiscal sponsor The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) closed on the property in March 2021. The Thompson Road Farm Project has plans to restore the wetlands and woodlands, recreate the prairies, and preserve the trail system for public recreation. 

Approximately 197 acres of wetlands and 35 acres of forested areas will be restored and managed by TLC under conservation easements. Another 60 acres of farmed land will be restored to native short-grass prairie, for a total of 274 acres restored in a scenic rolling glacial topography with unimpeded natural vistas. 

The site will incorporate almost 6 miles of permanent trail easements for equestrian and other public uses and recreation. Uses that have been considered include horseback riding, hiking and walking trails, 5k trail runs, birding, snowshoeing and educational outreach events. Access will be through a public parking area that will be established along Thompson Road, offering panoramic views of the restoration area and Boone Creek headwaters. The entire acreage will become a nature park in the Bull Valley Park System.

About Boone Creek — The Thompson Road Farm was the homestead for the Thompson Family dating from the late 1800’s and has been used for farming since then. Over the years, the property changed hands to several different families. It was most recently home to the Jung Family. In the late 1950’s the wetland areas around the headwaters of Boone Creek were tiled, greatly increasing pro- duction on the farm. That tile system is aging and breaking down, presenting a rare opportunity to preserve and restore one of the largest wetland areas in the County, and protect the quality of Boone Creek, one of the most important ecological treasures in Northeast Illinois. 

Boone Creek is a high quality cold water creek that drains 23 square miles in McHenry County and is fed by the state's largest concentration of privately owned Illinois Nature Preserves, primarily fens, seeps and springs. The Nature Preserves represent some of the most unique natural heritage sites remaining in Illinois. Preservation of the Thompson Road Farm will safeguard the water quality found in the creek today by restoring a functioning wetland system to filter and manage the water that eventually flows into the creek. This will enhance not only the quality of Boone Creek, but in addition the overall water quality in the area. 

According to scientists, restoration of degraded peatlands is one of the highest priorities for mitigating the effects of climate change. Peat soils naturally absorb and retain large amounts of carbon, and even soils that have been degraded by drainage and hydrologic changes hold great potential to recover once a healthy water cycle is re-established. Given that peat soils comprise just 3% of the Earth's land area, a project that preserves and restores over 100 acres of peat is ecologically significant. About Boone Creek

Bull Valley Riding Club  — The Thompson Road Farm has a rich history in McHenry County, beginning as part of the Thompson Family homestead in the late 1800’s. More recently it was home to the Jung Family, including Bull Valley Riding Club organizer Nancy Jung. 

The Bull Valley Riding Club was founded on this property and the farm’s “heritage trail” network is the original network of bridle trails dating back to the club’s origin in 1963. The property has been farmed for generations and horses have historically been part of the fabric of the land. Over five miles of equestrian trails currently on the property will be preserved, and maintained as public multi-use trails for future generations. 

The BVRC is a unique, historic organization which manages one of only a limited number of private bridle trail systems in the United States, and pre-dates the incorporation of the Village of Bull Valley. The Thompson Road Farm is our foundation story.

 

Click this link to see more parks located in Bull Valley