The Kendall County Forest Preserve District allows groups to reserve its picnic shelters at four Forest Preserves: Harris, Richard Young, Pickerill-Pigott, and Jay Woods.

Find reservation request forms, policies, and pricing here

Harris Forest Preserve: Located at 10460 Route 71, Yorkville. This 90-acre Preserve features 4 Shelters for rent, outhouses, a fishing lake, sled hill, horse arena, ballfield, and trails through oak and maple woodlands. There is not running water available at Harris.

• Shelter 1: Open air shelter closest to the main parking lot, features a concrete floor, fireplace, grill, and electricity. There are 18 picnic tables with a capacity of 100 people. This shelter is attached to Shelter 4, which is rented separately
• Shelter 2: Open air shelter south of the main parking lot, next to Leifheit Lake, features a concrete floor, 10 picnic tables, a grill, and a capacity of 60 people
• Shelter 4: Enclosed, indoor shelter that features a fireplace, furnace (turned on by switch), electricity, 12 picnic tables, and a capacity of no more than 50 people. Reserved use of Shelter 4 automatically includes use of Shelter 1
• Shelter 7: Open air shelter located next to the Horse Arena, features a concrete floor, 10 tables, a grill, and a capacity of 60 people.

Other Rentable Areas at Harris Forest Preserve

• Horse Arena: Features a sand bottom, spectator seating, an announcers stand, and includes use of the adjacent picnic shelter (#7) when reserved
• Baseball Field

Richard Young Forest Preserve: Located at 8225 Route 71, Yorkville. Adjacent to and joining the Lyon Forest Preserve, these Preserves form 170 acres of woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. Richard Young has 1 rentable picnic shelter featuring a concrete floor, fire pit, grill, 7 tables, and a capacity of 50.

Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve: Located at 6350 Minkler Road, Yorkville. Nestled in the heart of the Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve, this shelter features a concrete floor, 8 picnic tables, electricity, a nearby gravel path that circles the small pond located adjacent to the shelter, and a capacity of 80 people. Please note that the shelter is not available for rent when the Pickerill Estate House is reserved.

Jay Woods: Located at 860 Creek Road in Plano, this Preserve features 120 acres of woodland and prairie divided into two parcels on both the east and west sides of Creek Road. The 40 acres located on the east parcel of Jay Woods offers a rentable picnic shelter with concrete floor, grill, fire pit, 10 picnic tables, and a nearby outhouse. There is a wooded trail that leads to an observation deck overlooking the Little Rock Creek. The 80+ acres on the west parcel offers a one-mile prairie path. Parking lots are available on both sides.

Regarding firewood: Please note that if you plan to use the fire pits at Harris 1 or 4, Richard Young, or Jay Woods Forest Preserves, firewood must be purchased from the Kendall County Forest Preserve District. Firewood bundles are $25.00 and contain 30 pieces of wood. Advance notice of firewood purchase required. No outside firewood may be brought into the Preserve.