Laona Heights Sugar River Colored Sands Sugar River Two Rivers Ferguson Hartley Memorial Trask Bridge Four Lakes Pecatonica River Pecatonica Wetlands Crooked River Grove Creek Seward Bluffs Klehm Forest Preserve Severson Dells Fuller Memorial Cedar Cliff Indian Hill Hinchliff Memorial Kilbuck Bluffs Trailside Kishwaukee Gorge South Kishwaukee Gorge North Rockford Rotary Kishwaukee River Oak Ridge Blackhawk Springs Deer Run Espenscheid Memorial McKiski County Line Kieselburg Roland Olson Stone Bridge Clayton Andrews Ledges Hononegah J. Norman Jensen Millrace Isle Macktown Atwood Homestead Forest Preserve Headquarters
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Governance

Since December 2010, the Forest Preserve District has been governed by an independent elected Board of Commissioners. As of September 2021, they include:

Judith Barnard, 2203 N. Church St., Rockford, IL 61103 – jbarnard@winnebagoforest.org
Mike Eickman, 11114 Harrison Rd., Rockton, IL 61072 – meickman@winnebagoforest.org
Audrey L. Johnson, 4260 Sunset Terrace #205, Loves Park, IL 61111 – ajohnson@winnebagoforest.org
Gloria Lind, 1122 Greenwood Ave., Rockford, IL 61107 – glind@winnebagoforest.org
Cheryl A. Maggio, 6351 Dandbridge Blvd., Rockford, IL 61103 – cmaggio@winnebagoforest.org 
Jerry Paulson, 4601 Paulson Road, Caledonia, IL 61011 – jpaulson@winnebagoforest.org                                Jeff Tilly, 3150 Durham Court, Rockford, IL 61109 – jtilly@winnebagoforest.org

The Forest Preserve District encompasses the county. The District is a legally separate organization and therefore retains a separate taxing authority and fiscal year than the County. The Board of Commissioners works closely with staff to study forest preserve issues and challenges and develop strategies to meet its mission. Jeff Tilly serves as Forest Preserve District Commission President. The Board of Commissioners is responsible for addressing priorities of long-range planning, approving budgets and developing policies for the District’s facilities. FPWC Commissioners are non-partisan volunteers who are elected at large. Please check the  News Updates section of the FPWC home page for any changes to the meeting schedule.

2021 Schedule of Board of Commissioners Meetings

Forest Preserves of Winnebago County Headquarters, 5:30 PM in the Conference Room, 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford 61103 3rd Wednesday of each month January 20, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16,  July 21, August 18-Colored Sands Forest Preserve, September 15, October 20, November 17, December 15, 2021. Anyone wishing to speak at a Board meeting must submit a request to speak in writing to the President by noon on the day of the meeting. Request must include name, address and subject matter. Requests may be relayed through District office at above address; or at kknapp@winnebagoforest.org; or by fax 815-877-6124.

Strategic Land Conservation Plan

In 2015 the Land Advisory Council developed seven criteria to guide and prioritize future land acquisitions.  This tool helps the Land Advisory Council evaluate prospective acquisitions and make a recommendation to the FPWC Board of Commissioners. View the FPWC Strategic Land Conservation Plan which guides land acquisition and development.