As Earth Day nears, it is important to recognize efforts to keep our planet healthier, safer and viable for the future. One organization, Living Lands and Waters, founded by Chad Pregracke, is a remarkable example of what happens when we come together to make our communities a better place to live.

Pregracke grew up in East Moline on the banks of the Mississippi River, witnessing firsthand the amount of trash and debris collected along the banks of the river from human activity. At 17, he decided to begin single-handedly removing the garbage. A few years later, in 1998, he founded Living Lands and Waters.

Since the founding of the organization, Pregracke, his crew and volunteers have conducted over 1,400 community cleanups on 25 rivers in 23 states, removed a remarkable 13.5 million pounds of garbage and planted over 2.1 million trees in their efforts to reclaim waterfronts.

Springtime in Illinois brings longer days and warmer temperatures, but most importantly, nature begins to bloom and the state landscape transforms, bringing mesmerizing sites.

In honor of the beginning of spring, here are a few flower shows to welcome the new season:

Spring Floral Show at the Washington Park Botanical Garden – Springfield

Celebrate the beauty of spring at the Washington Park Botanical Garden! From March 22 to April 13, immerse yourself in vibrant floral displays displaying the season’s most stunning blooms. This free annual event is a perfect way to witness nature’s rebirth. Visit the Springfield Park District’s website for more details.

Eagle watching is popular free and fun community event for numerous areas across the state! The first eagles arrive in December, and most leave by mid-March. January and February are the best months to see eagles, whether at a state park or wildlife refuge, here is a list of some of the best locations to see our protected national birds:

Located in the northeast corner of the state in Zion, the Illinois Beach State Park has unfortunately suffered from beach erosion and loss of habit for three costal bird species over the years, including the piping plover, common tern and Caspian tern.

To protect the state’s last remaining natural shoreline, major investments were made into an impressive and historic shoreline stabilization project that was recently completed in October. The $73 million investment allowed for the necessary construction of new offshore stone breakwater structures to shelter the Lake Michigan shoreline from wave energy.

The park – located roughly 50 miles north of Chicago – is a major source of tourism for the area. In 2015, 1.2 million visitors came to the park to enjoy boating, hiking, swimming and more along its 4,160 acres. The shoreline stabilization project was also selected for the 2024 Best Restored Beach award through the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. 

Illinois has plenty to offer – whether it is the rich culture, delicious food or scenery, there is something for everyone. It is no secret that fall is around the corner with the trees starting to turn to beautiful hues of yellows and reds, displaying the natural beauty of our state. This week, we have compiled a list of the 10 BEST hiking trails to visit in the fall months!

1. Starved Rock and Sandstone Point Overlook Trail: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
2. Dells Canyon and Bluff Trail: Matthiessen State Park (Oglesby)
3. Garden of the Gods Observation Trail: Shawnee National Forest (Near Harrisburg)
4. Little Grand Canyon Trail: Shawnee National Forest (Pomona)
5. Waterfall Glen Trail: Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve (Darien)
6. Eagle Cliff Overlook and La Salle Canyon: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
7. Sag Valley Yellow Trail Loop: Swallow Cliff Woods (Near Palos Park)
8. Saint Louis Canyon Trail: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
9. Pontiac Canyon, Wildcat Canyon and Beehive Overlook: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
10. Indian Point Trail: Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Near Harrisburg)

Starved Rock State Park has several locations on this list and brings in an estimated 3 million visitors annually from all over the world, cementing its place as one of the crown jewels of Illinois for its beauty. With an impressive 270 trails that total more than 700 miles in Illinois, we hope you have the chance to visit one of these hiking trails and enjoy the nice weather!