Administration

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County is made up of eight departments. These departments include the General Office; Legal Department; Department of Planning and Development; Department of Finance and Administration; Resource Management; Permits & Recreational Activities; Law Enforcement; and Maintenance.

The General Office Department contains all administrative personnel for the Forest Preserve District. This includes the General Superintendent, the Office of the Secretary and Treasury, and all other supporting staff.

The District’s Legal Department is housed downtown in the Daley Center and handles all legal matters for the Forest Preserve District.

The Planning and Development Department contains five subsections. They are Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, GIS, and Real Estate and Licensing. The department as a whole, oversees all major construction of new facilities and the reconstruction of old facilities. Their work includes planning, specifications, and supervision of contract work in the Forest Preserve District.

The Department of Finance and Administration provides oversight and manages all financial affairs and administrative functions related to personnel, purchasing agent, human relations, risk management, and financial accounting and reporting.

The Department of Resource Management manages the District’s Nature Education Programs and Land Management Programs. They run the District’s 6 Nature Centers and are also responsible for the fish and wildlife of the area as well as their habitats throughout the District.

The Permits & Recreational Activities Department oversees the operation and maintenance of the District’s swimming pools, golf courses, driving ranges, and toboggan slides. In addition, all picnic and special permits are issued by this department. Also, the Recreation Department houses the Special Events Office.

The Law Enforcement Department is responsible for enforcing all Federal and State Laws as well as County Ordinances.

The Maintenance Department is responsible for the care and maintenance of District facilities such as picnic areas, buildings, and trails. They also manage the District’s Central Warehouse and Garage.