Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Caldwell Woods Wellness Center

Cook County, IL

Caldwell Woods is a segment of the greater Forest Preserve District of Cook County and is named for the British-Potawatomi fur trader Billy Caldwell who negotiated treaties on behalf of the United Nations of Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi with the United States, including the Treaty of Chicago. The Caldwell Woods Preserves is one of 12 priority gateway sites identified for investment in new improvements and programs to make its land and facilities more welcoming and accessible to all of Cook County’s residents.

AltusWorks was engaged to re-envision the Caldwell Warming Shelter, originally built in 1962 to support toboggan slides, into a year-round multi-purpose “wellness and welcome center”. The center will include multi-purpose spaces, a warming kitchen, new glazed entry, toilet facilities, and a large exterior patio and firepit. Work will begin in early 2023 and with a planned opening to the public by April 2024.