The Next Century of Conservation
Thank you to those who supported the 2025 Centennial Grove Project!
Johnson’s Mound was the first property ever acquired by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. When the Forest Preserve District celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, the Kane Forest Preserve Foundation asked everyone to take part in launching the next century of conservation by sponsoring the 2025 Centennial Grove Project.
The mature forest at Johnson’s Mound includes the very first trees planted in the Forest Preserve District. For a century, these trees here have stood tall, and offered shade, beauty and a sense of history. The Centennial Grove Project featured:
- 800 new trees, mostly oaks, but also hickories and maples. These trees were planted adjacent to the very oldest trees in the Forest Preserve District.
- A new 23-acre prairie
- A public-art piece called Guardians, by renowned local artist Mike Baur
- Benches to rest and reflect
- An ADA-accessible limestone path to the new amenities, as well as a mowed trail
- Bronze plaques displayed on monuments, gratefully acknowledging project sponsors
Guardians at Johnson's Mound
At Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve, take the trail southeast of the main parking lot, and you'll find a one-of-a-kind sculpture, Guardians, created specifically for the Centennial Grove Project by local artist Mike Baur.
Guardians is intended to capture the essence of the Midwest’s natural cycles, inspired by the seasonal winds that sweep through the region’s forests. As branches and trunks fall, they form intricate patterns that nourish the land and provide homes for wildlife. This two-part sculpture, a combination of concrete and steel, evokes the horizontal shapes and movements of downed wood, shaped by prairie winds. Standing as two monolithic figures, each is uniquely cast using molds fabricated from salvaged fallen trees. The sculpture embodies both the monumental and the intimate. Its design connects viewers with the forest, evoking the delicate balance between nature’s power and our role within it. Commissioned as part of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County’s 100-year celebration, Guardians is the District’s first public art piece. It serves as a focal point for visitors, and encourage a deeper appreciation for the environment.
Outside Guardians are limestone monuments containing bronze plaques, gratefully acknowledging supporters of the Centennial Grove Project.
Beyond the circle, you’ll see the newly planted 23-acre prairie to the south, and the new centennial grove tree-planting, made up of 800 oaks, hickories and maples, to the north.