Rebekah Snyder, director of community engagement and partnerships (left); Kristen Seefurth, assistant communications and design manager; Education Manager Matt Mulligan and Facilities Director Dan Stearns

The Lake County Forest Preserves received two national honors from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO).

NACPRO is comprised of 129 park and special recreation districts from across the country, including the Lake County Forest Preserves.

The Ryerson Education Center in Riverwoods earned the Park and Recreation Facility award for its energy-efficient design and role in environmental education. The Periodical Cicadas campaign received the Park and Recreation Program award, recognizing the creative approach to science communication during the 2024 emergence.

Opened in spring 2024, the Ryerson Education Center is a 2,900-square-foot net-zero energy facility built to inspire the public to embrace climate-conscious design. Tucked into a floodplain forest, it serves 25,000 students each year and is the first new construction public building in Lake County to earn certification from Passive House Institute US.

Its airtight envelope, triple-pane bird-safe windows and energy-efficient features make it a model for sustainable buildings. The award highlights the Forest Preserves’ leadership in blending innovative design with environmental education.

“This national award recognizes our commitment to sustainability and education,” said Executive Director Alex Ty Kovach. “The Ryerson Education Center is not only an innovative building, it’s a space that connects thousands of students to nature and the urgent challenges of our time.”

The Forest Preserves turned last year’s 17-year periodical cicada emergence into the most far-reaching public program in its history. Through events, school programs, a Dunn Museum exhibit and CicadaFest, staff engaged over 10,000 people locally while communications efforts reached 213 million globally via media coverage and online content.

The campaign positioned the Forest Preserves as a trusted source for science education, drawing national and international attention to this natural phenomenon. The success showcased the power of collaboration, creativity and timing in connecting people to nature.

“This effort showed what’s possible when all parts of our organization come together,” said Forest Preserves President Jessica Vealitzek. “From educators and ecologists to communications, operations and visitor services, every team played a role in sharing the cicada story in ways that inspired and informed the public.”

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