Wildlife Prairie Park, also known as the Hazel & Bill Rutherford Wildlife Prairie Park is located in Peoria County, Illinois, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of downtown Peoria in central Illinois. Opened in the 1970s, it has most recently been operated as a not-for-profit corporation since 2013. The park has 1,800 acres (730 ha) of land with over 150 animals of 60 different species that are native to Illinois.
Local philanthropist and attorney[1] Bill Rutherford Sr. and his wife Hazel founded Wildlife Prairie Park.[2] The Forest Park Foundation first acquired the area in the late 1960s. The foundation had originally intended to use the land as a breeding farm for endangered species in partnership with the Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society. However, the zoo's plans changed. The Forest Park Foundation pivoted to create a zoological park that would preserve the native plants and animals of Illinois.[3]
Wildlife Prairie Park initially welcomed visitors in September 1977 for six weeks in honor of Hazel Rutherford's birthday. The park officially opened to the public on August 4, 1978.[4][5]
On September 5, 2000, Bill Rutherford Sr. presented the deed to the park to Governor George Ryan and the park was transferred from private foundation ownership to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and renamed Hazel & Bill RutherfordWildlife Prairie State Park. Although owned by the state, the Forest Park Foundation continued to manage the park operations under a contract with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Wildlife Prairie Park struggled to receive funding from the state. The Forest Park Foundation agreed to turn over operational responsibility to a new governing board, a group of locals known as Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park.[6]
In May 2013, the park was officially transferred back into private ownership when it was given to the Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park.[7][8]The land was officially reclaimed in 2014.[citation needed][9]
Flora and fauna
Some of the wildlife includes white bison,[10] wolves,[11] waterfowl, black bears, elk, otters, badgers, snakes, bobcats, butterflies, and other native animals.
Recreation
Fishing, riding the train, camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, and other activities are available in the park.
The Prairie Zephyr Train is a one-third scale train with over a mile of track. There are 2 locomotives, a "steam" locomotive powered by a Caterpillar Diesel engine, and a "diesel" locomotive powered by a Chevy Cobalt gasoline engine. The train has 2 freight cars and 9 passenger cars. Five of these passenger cars were built by Chance Rides out of Wichita, Kansas and were previously used at the St. Louis Zoo. Four passenger cars were built by Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and were acquired from the Milwaukee County Zoo.[12] The train offers rides to guests during fair weather.[13]
Many of the park's artificial elements were constructed by hand and with recycled materials in an effort to reduce their negative environmental effects years before it was commonplace to safeguard the environment.[14]The bricks on the visitor center patio and train depot, the repurposed whiskey barrels as trash cans, the resawn wood used in the buildings, and the numerous telephone poles used in the gates and bridges around the park are all made of recycled materials. The habitats and bridges are largely hand-built. This practice has extended to on-site lodging, where guests can stay overnight in converted Santa Fe Train Cabooses and former grain bins. On-site accommodation includes contemporary cabins with porches facing the bison and elk pastures,[15] one-room log cottages, and patios facing Caboose Lake.[16][citation needed]
wildlife, prairie, park, this, article, contains, content, that, written, like, advertisement, please, help, improve, removing, promotional, content, inappropriate, external, links, adding, encyclopedic, content, written, from, neutral, point, view, march, 202. This article contains content that is written like an advertisement Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view March 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Wildlife Prairie Park also known as the Hazel amp Bill Rutherford Wildlife Prairie Park is located in Peoria County Illinois approximately 10 miles 16 km west of downtown Peoria in central Illinois Opened in the 1970s it has most recently been operated as a not for profit corporation since 2013 The park has 1 800 acres 730 ha of land with over 150 animals of 60 different species that are native to Illinois Wildlife Prairie ParkBison and rolling prairie near observation deckLocation in IllinoisShow map of IllinoisLocation in United StatesShow map of Peoria County IllinoisWildlife Prairie Park the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationPeoria County IllinoisNearest cityNorwood IllinoisCoordinates40 44 N 89 44 W 40 733 N 89 733 W 40 733 89 733Area1 700 acres 6 9 km2 citation needed OwnerFriends of Wildlife Prairie ParkWebsitewildlifeprairiepark wbr org Contents 1 History 2 Flora and fauna 3 Recreation 4 Photo gallery 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditLocal philanthropist and attorney 1 Bill Rutherford Sr and his wife Hazel founded Wildlife Prairie Park 2 The Forest Park Foundation first acquired the area in the late 1960s The foundation had originally intended to use the land as a breeding farm for endangered species in partnership with the Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society However the zoo s plans changed The Forest Park Foundation pivoted to create a zoological park that would preserve the native plants and animals of Illinois 3 Wildlife Prairie Park initially welcomed visitors in September 1977 for six weeks in honor of Hazel Rutherford s birthday The park officially opened to the public on August 4 1978 4 5 On September 5 2000 Bill Rutherford Sr presented the deed to the park to Governor George Ryan and the park was transferred from private foundation ownership to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and renamed Hazel amp Bill Rutherford Wildlife Prairie State Park Although owned by the state the Forest Park Foundation continued to manage the park operations under a contract with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Prairie Park struggled to receive funding from the state The Forest Park Foundation agreed to turn over operational responsibility to a new governing board a group of locals known as Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park 6 In May 2013 the park was officially transferred back into private ownership when it was given to the Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park 7 8 The land was officially reclaimed in 2014 citation needed 9 Flora and fauna EditSome of the wildlife includes white bison 10 wolves 11 waterfowl black bears elk otters badgers snakes bobcats butterflies and other native animals Recreation EditFishing riding the train camping hiking biking kayaking and other activities are available in the park The Prairie Zephyr Train is a one third scale train with over a mile of track There are 2 locomotives a steam locomotive powered by a Caterpillar Diesel engine and a diesel locomotive powered by a Chevy Cobalt gasoline engine The train has 2 freight cars and 9 passenger cars Five of these passenger cars were built by Chance Rides out of Wichita Kansas and were previously used at the St Louis Zoo Four passenger cars were built by Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works of Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin and were acquired from the Milwaukee County Zoo 12 The train offers rides to guests during fair weather 13 Many of the park s artificial elements were constructed by hand and with recycled materials in an effort to reduce their negative environmental effects years before it was commonplace to safeguard the environment 14 The bricks on the visitor center patio and train depot the repurposed whiskey barrels as trash cans the resawn wood used in the buildings and the numerous telephone poles used in the gates and bridges around the park are all made of recycled materials The habitats and bridges are largely hand built This practice has extended to on site lodging where guests can stay overnight in converted Santa Fe Train Cabooses and former grain bins On site accommodation includes contemporary cabins with porches facing the bison and elk pastures 15 one room log cottages and patios facing Caboose Lake 16 citation needed Photo gallery Edit Ernest the Elk Ernest at the Vista Bricks ceremony site Campfire at night Eagle Hawk Fishing area on the west side sectionReferences Edit Conservation Wildlife Prairie Park Wildlife Prairie Park Retrieved March 8 2023 WILLIAM RUTHERFORD OBITUARY Legacy com Peoria Journal Star November 22 2006 JEWEL ON THE PRAIRIE Peoria Magazine WTVP Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation Retrieved March 8 2023 Our Story Wildlife Prairie Park Wildlife Prairie Park Retrieved March 7 2023 Croton Harry August 4 2022 Wildlife Prairie Park celebrates 44 years WEEK WEEK Retrieved March 8 2023 JEWEL ON THE PRAIRIE Peoria Magazine WTVP Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation Retrieved March 8 2023 Wildlife Prairie Park Facebook post May 11 2013 Retrieved October 23 2015 An Act concerning property P A 98 0013 approved May 13 2013 Retrieved October 24 2015 Koonce Tanya Wildlife Prairie Park is again locally owned WCBU WCBU Retrieved March 7 2023 Renken Leslie October 4 2022 A rare white bison dies unexpectedly at Wildlife Prairie Park Peoria Journal Star Retrieved October 5 2022 Holtz Jody Wildlife Prairie Park celebrates 45th birthday and emergence as a multi day destination WCBU WCBU Retrieved March 7 2023 Volunteer Areas Available Wildlife Prairie Park Wildlife Prairie Park Retrieved March 8 2023 Plan Your Adventure Wildlife Prairie Park Wildlife Prairie Park Retrieved March 8 2023 Hazel amp Bill Rutherford Wildlife Prairie State Park Oh Ranger www ohranger com Retrieved August 1 2022 Shelley Tim Wildlife Prairie Park Unveils New Lodgings Overlooking Bison Pasture WCBU WCBU Retrieved March 7 2023 Lodging Wildlife Prairie Park Wildlife Prairie Park Retrieved March 7 2023 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wildlife Prairie Park Wildlife Prairie Park official website This Peoria County Illinois location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wildlife Prairie Park amp oldid 1170838867, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
