Lake Forest Open Lands Association home | site map | privacy | terms of use | contact us
about open lands
land preservation
events
news
education
join open lands
give to open lands
click here to view
click here to view master calendar
rules and regulations

To read the Dog Rules and Regulations, please click here...

Lake Forest Open Lands Association (LFOLA) was founded in 1967 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of open space and the conservation of the community's natural heritage.

By entering any of Lake Forest Open Lands' preserves you are agreeing to be bound by and abide by the terms of the Rules and Regulations set forth below:

1. Mission:
The mission of LFOLA (the "Association") is to preserve our natural environment through land acquisition, habitat restoration, public education, and conservation advocacy. The rules and regulations governing the use of its preserve properties are intended to help the Association carry out its mission.

2. Hours of Use:
Generally, the preserves are open year round to the public from dawn until dusk. However, the Association may choose to close a preserve or a section of a preserve at its discretion.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY:

3. Assumption of Risk, Waiver for Loss or Damage:

  1. All persons using the Association's property do so at their own risk.
  2. The Association assumes no responsibility for loss of or damage to persons or property. All persons using the preserves expressly assume liability and the risk of loss and waive the Association's liability and the liability of all employees, agents volunteers or board members and officers of the Association for damage to their persons and property and that of others caused by them, and, to the extent permitted by law, agree to indemnify and hold the Association harmless for all such liability, including court costs and attorney fees even if such loss or damage is the result of a dangerous or latent condition existing on the property.

4. Destruction or misuse of properties:

  1. No person shall remove, damage, burn, or alter signage, benches, fences or other objects or improvements found on the Association's property.
  2. No person shall litter or dump or otherwise pollute or contaminate the lands and waters of the Association. Anyone dumping yard or other waste on Association properties will be responsible for its clean up and removal and the costs associated therewith and for the repair of any incidental or consequential damages caused thereby.

5. Natural resources:

  1. No person shall kill, maim, capture, molest or treat cruelly any mammal, bird, amphibian or reptile. Scientific researchers and students may collect and monitor ecological data with written approval from the Executive Director of the Association.
  2. Persons not under the direct supervision of an Association employee or without the Association's permission shall not cut, remove, uproot or destroy any tree, sapling, seedling, bush, shrub, plant or flower whether alive or dead.
  3. No person shall collect firewood on the Association's property.
  4. No person shall be allowed to feed or harass wildlife.
  5. No person shall introduce or bring any plant or animal or their reproductive bodies (e.g. cocoons, eggs, chrysalis) into the Association's property without written permission of the Executive Director of the Association.

6. Dog Rules & Regulations

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY:

  • All dog owners visiting the preserves must be registered members of Open Lands with dog walking privileges and display a current dog-walking parking decal.
  • Dogs are not permitted at Mellody Farm Nature Preserve.

At all other preserves:

  • Dogs must be leashed at all times when in view of education groups, other people or other dogs.
  • Dog walkers are responsible for the bagging and removal of their dog’s waste on all Open Lands properties.
  • No more than three dogs per adult walker are allowed in Open Lands preserves at any time.
  • All dogs must display a current license tag from their municipality of residence.
  • Dogs visiting Open Lands preserves must be current on all distemper, parvo and rabies shots.
  • Unhealthy dogs or dogs that are in season may not be walked in Open Lands preserves.
  • No aggressive dogs shall be allowed on Open Lands property.
  • Dog walkers are responsible for the behavior of their dog(s).
  • Dogs should be discouraged from entering wetlands and streams.
  • Use of Open Lands preserves should be limited to the trail. No off-trail field training of dogs is permitted on the lands or waters of Open Lands.
  • Dog walkers must abide by any additional notices that may be posted from time to time.
  • All federal, state and municipal rules, laws and regulations apply.

Failure to abide by these Rules and Regulations can lead to fines and penalties, including civil and criminal and to expulsion from Open Lands preserves either temporary or permanently and/or membership termination.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE AND WAIVER AGREEMENT

All persons using Open Lands property do so at their own risk.

Open Lands is not responsible for any illness or injury to dogs on Open Lands property, nor for any loss, damage or injury to persons or to other persons’ dogs caused by dogs on Open Lands property. All persons using the preserves with their dog(s) expressly assume the risk to themselves and their dog(s) and assume liability therefore and waive Open Lands’ liability and the liability of all employees, agents, volunteers, board members and officers of Open Lands for any injury or damage to their dog(s) or to their person or property, or to other persons, or to the dog(s) or property of other persons caused by their dog(s) while on Open Lands property, and, to the extent permitted by law,  agree to indemnify and hold Open Lands harmless for all such liability, including court costs and attorney fees even if such loss or damage is the result of a dangerous or latent condition existing on the property.

To report a non-emergency, non-adherence to rules or aggressive behavior you observe in another dog or owner, call (847) 234-3880.  If emergency police assistance is needed, call 911.  For all other assistance or to obtain a complete copy of the Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s Nature Preserve Rules and Regulations, call Open Lands at (847) 234-3880, x10.

Thank you for your cooperation.

7. Fires:
No person shall build a fire anywhere, for any purpose unless under the direct supervision of an Association employee or with written permission from the Executive Director of the Association.

8. Camping:
No overnight camping shall be allowed on the Association's properties unless the Association's Executive Director has granted special permission in writing.

9. Hobbies:

  1. No person shall operate any model propelled by machinery on the lands or waters of the Association without written permission from Executive Director of the Association.
  2. No person shall operate a metal detector on the Association's properties without written permission of the Executive Director of the Association.
  3. No person, upon entering association property, shall have in their possession any firearm, bow, paintball gun, pellet gun, slingshot or projectile.

10. Hunting/Trapping:

  1. No hunting shall be allowed on Association properties. At times the Association may grant special permission for hunting to assist in the management of its properties.
  2. All federal and state rules and regulations apply.
  3. No trapping may occur on association properties.
  4. No off trail field training of dogs is permitted on the lands or waters of the Association.

11. Swimming:
No person shall be allowed to swim, bathe, or wade in the Association's water.

12. Trails:
a) No bicycles, snowmobiles, motorized vehicles or equestrian traffic is permitted on the Association's property without written permission from the Executive Director. b) Use of the property should be limited to the trails. No off trail activity is permitted unless under the supervision of an employee of the Association.

13. Pyrotechnics:
No person shall have in their possession when entering association property: fireworks, smoke bombs, rockets, black powder guns or other pyrotechnics without written permission from the Executive Director of the Association.

14. Harassment and Disorderly Conduct:
a) No person shall engage in any violent, abusive, loud, boisterous, vulgar or other such disorderly conduct or language which disturbs, annoys or infringes upon the rights of other persons using the Association's properties or living proximate to the Association's properties. b) No person should interfere with, disrupt, delay or hinder in any manner an employee of the Association.

15. Commercials, Films and Video:
a) No person or organization shall produce any film or video for advertisement, cultural, documentary, educational or entertainment purposes without prior written approval from the Association. b) No photographs shall be taken for advertising, commercial or publicity purposes without prior approval from the Association.

16. Advertising:
No person shall display any signs or banners, or distribute literature without written permission from the Association.

17. Reservations:
Individuals or groups wishing to use the Association's property for educational field trips or related programs must receive prior approval from the Director of Education at (847) 482-1928 and must sign a waiver and hold harmless agreement and provide proof of liability insurance. Groups or individuals using the Association's property without permission may be asked to leave the property.

18. Weddings:
Individuals wishing to use the Association's property for weddings should submit a written request to the Executive Director of the Association. A wedding on Association property will be limited to the ceremony only (no reception). In general, there will be no amplified music, no additional structures (tents, sign, etc.), no catering, the property will remain open to the public, the wedding party is responsible for all clean up, parking and access will be determined by Open Lands according to the location of the site.
THE ASSOCIATION ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY AND THE WEDDING HOST MUST SIGN A WAIVER AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT AND PROVIDE PROOF OF LIABILITY INSURANCE.

19. Adjacent Homeowners:
No alcohol, parties or social gatherings are permitted on the Association's property without the advance written permission from the Executive Director of the Association.
No dumping of yard waste, branches or other gardening refuse is allowed at any time on the Association's property.
No construction of fencing or barriers by adjacent homeowners is allowed on any of the Association's property.

20. Enforcement and Penalties:
The Association hopes all persons using Association's property are respectful of the land, water, flora and fauna and will abide by its Rules and Regulations. By entering any of Lake Forest Open Lands' preserves you are agreeing to be bound by and abide by the terms and conditions set forth herein. Failure to abide by these terms can lead to penalties, including civil and criminal and to expulsion from the preserves, either temporarily or permanently.

Approved by Lake Forest Open Lands Association
Executive Committee
April 8, 2003

quote of the day!
preserves
land preservation
nature preserves
restoration activities
living science
gifts of land & easements
preserve regulations
dog rules & regulations
back to top