Clara A Lauterbach Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Clara A Lauterbach Park is a beautiful natural park located in Illinois that offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors.


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Summary

The park covers an area of 85 acres and features hiking trails, fishing ponds, picnic areas, and a playground for kids.

One of the main reasons to visit Clara A Lauterbach Park is its stunning natural beauty. The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Visitors can enjoy hiking along the park's scenic trails, which wind through forests and open fields.

Another point of interest in the park is the fishing ponds. The ponds are stocked with a variety of fish, including bass, catfish, and bluegill. Visitors can fish from the shore or rent a boat and explore the ponds.

Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former dairy farm and its designation as a nature preserve. The park is also home to a variety of rare plant species, including the compass plant and the prairie dock.

The best time of year to visit Clara A Lauterbach Park is in the summer or early fall when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. The park is open year-round, but some facilities may be closed during the winter months.

Overall, Clara A Lauterbach Park is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts in Illinois. Its stunning natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and recreational activities make it a great place to explore and enjoy.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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