Wilmington, IL – The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie has announced an extension to the temporary closure of its supervisor’s office and welcome center. Initially set to reopen January 27, the facility will now remain closed until February 18, 2025, as crews continue essential updates to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the closure, which began December 9, 2024, became necessary after extreme weather conditions caused frozen pipes and significant strain on the aging HVAC system. Christina Henderson, Midewin’s prairie supervisor, stated, “For the health and safety of our staff and our partners, this overhaul of the system has to be done.”
While the welcome center is closed, trailheads, trails, and hunting areas at Midewin remain open to the public. Educational programs, including the annual winter lecture series typically scheduled for December and January, will be rescheduled. Staff and partners will work from alternate locations during the closure to maintain prairie operations.
For further information, visitors can contact the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Visitor Center at (815) 423-6370 or email SM.FS.Midewin_RSVP@usda.gov.
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