Shaw Creek Park & Trail

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A Natural Haven for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Lake Wildwood Association is excited to introduce its newest outdoor escape—Shaw Creek Park & Trail. This scenic addition to our community offers a peaceful retreat where members can immerse themselves in nature, enjoy light hiking trails, and take in the tranquil surroundings of this beautifully repurposed area.

Once known as the 319 Grant Area, this space has been transformed into a multi-use recreational area featuring winding trails that follow the picturesque Shaw Creek. Whether you're looking for a leisurely walk, an energizing hike, or a quiet place to reflect, the park offers something for everyone.

Shaw Creek Park & Trail is just the beginning of an expanding effort to provide more outdoor experiences for our members. Whether you're looking to explore the trails, enjoy a peaceful afternoon picnic, or embrace the winter fun on the sledding hill, this new amenity is sure to become a favorite destination within our community.

319 Grant

The Clean Water Act Section 319(h)

The 319 Grant was awarded to Lake Wildwood Association in 2012 to help reduce the sediment loads through the 'Lake Wildwood Stream and Floodplain Restoration Project'.

The project stabilized approximately 1,200 linear feet of severely eroded streambanks along Shaw Creek, including a collapsing bank over 40 feet high. A combination of stabilization techniques was used, including stone toe protection, toewood, rootwad composite revetments, stream barbs, bank grading, and native riparian vegetation.

Due to the incised channel, the design reduced shear stress along the threatened bank by adjusting the thalweg and shifting the area of maximum velocity away from the near bank region. Additionally, the project enhanced aquatic habitat by creating variable flows and scour pools. Similar techniques had been successfully implemented in June 2011 for a previously eroded section of the streambank.

Park & Trail Phase One

Phase One Includes:
• Expanded and refined parking lot.
• Multiple-route trails.
• Wildflower garden of Illinois.
• Stepping stones across the creek.

Future Expansion Includes:
• A sledding hill.
• Covered picnic area alongside the creek.
• Overlook seating.
• Expanded trails.

Wildflower Garden

Planted and maintained by the volunteers of the Common Properties and Amenities committee.

Wild Bergamot

Blue Sage

Blue Vervain

Butterfly Weed

Columbine

Compass Plant

Hairy Beardtongue

Lance-leaf Coreopsis

Common Milkweed

Ohio Spiderwort

Pale Purple Coneflower

Prairie Smoke

Purple Prairie Clover

Showy Goldenrod

White Wild Indigo

• Wild Bergamot – A fragrant, lavender-colored flower that attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
• Blue Sage – A drought-tolerant perennial with deep blue flowers that thrives in prairies and open fields.
• Blue Vervain – A tall, slender plant with small blue-purple flowers that provide nectar for bees and butterflies.
• Butterfly Weed – A bright orange milkweed species that is essential for monarch butterflies, providing nectar and a host plant for caterpillars.
• Columbine – A delicate red and yellow flower that attracts hummingbirds and bees. It thrives in woodland gardens and shaded areas.
• Compass Plant – A tall, sunflower-like plant that helps prairie restoration by improving soil stability. Its large leaves orient north-south, hence the name.
• Hairy Beardtongue – A hardy wildflower with purple tubular flowers that attract bumblebees and hummingbirds.
• Lance-leaf Coreopsis – A bright yellow daisy-like flower that provides nectar for butterflies and bees. It is commonly used in prairie restorations.
• Common Milkweed – A vital plant for monarch butterflies, serving as a host for their caterpillars. Its fragrant pink flowers also attract a variety of pollinators.
• Ohio Spiderwort – A blue, three-petaled flower that opens in the morning and closes by afternoon. It provides nectar for bees and adapts well to various soils.
• Pale Purple Coneflower – A drought-resistant prairie plant with drooping lavender petals that attract bees and butterflies while improving soil health.
• Prairie Smoke – A unique wildflower with pink, feathery seed heads that resemble smoke. It helps prevent soil erosion and supports native bee populations.
• Purple Prairie Clover – A nitrogen-fixing plant with dense purple flower spikes that enrich soil and provide nectar for bees and butterflies.
• Showy Goldenrod – A late-season bloomer with bright yellow flowers that provide an essential nectar source for pollinators before winter.
• White Wild Indigo – A bushy plant with white pea-like flowers that serve as a host plant for butterflies while improving soil nitrogen levels.