There may not be a state park within Park Forest’s borders but the village offers an event inspired by First Day Hikes offered throughout 50 states by America’s State Parks.

The inaugural First Day in Nature is set for Monday at the Central Park Wetlands.

“Park Forest has at least 13 parks and quite a bit of those parks also have open spaces,” said Georgette Gladstone, chair of the Park Forest Recreation and Parks Advisory Board.

“Our objective is to connect the people in the community to those parks to create healthy lifestyles and get away from the everyday stresses and strains. There is actually study and research that this does improve your mood.

“Of course we know it does improve your health. Even taking a walk in the park helps so that is one of our main objectives. It’s also community building, bringing the community out just getting to know each other and getting to know what we have in Park Forest and for them to take advantage of it.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring sleds, cross-country skis and/or snowshoes if there is snow.

“Michelle O’Connor’s going to take us through the wetlands and guide us through some information and facts about that area,” said Gladstone about the naturalist-led event.

“It’s a highlight of our parks. It’s in Central Park, which is on Lakewood Boulevard, which is the main street in Park Forest. We have a wonderful playground and shelter. We have a lot of activities there in the summer, spring and fall,” she said.

“In the wintertime, everything else becomes rather deserted so I thought it would be great for the First Day in Nature on the first day of the year to bring in the new year. We’re also going to have a fire pit. We’ll roast marshmallows and there’ll be hot chocolate.

“After the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year’s we’re hoping that people will get out for fresh air and walk and just connect with nature.”

Gladstone credited her sister Maxine Harrison, a Park Forest native who is active with Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation, with the idea of hosting First Day in Nature.

“She had mentioned that they were going to be doing the First Day Hikes in nature, which happens to be an event created by the National Association of State Park Directors. It’s an event that’s going on nationally in state parks,” said Gladstone about the hikes that drew 55,000 participants last year.

“I’m taking it from the national level. Seeing that we have such open spaces and the wetlands, I thought, ‘What a wonderful event to have,’ because our goal is building community and also to have events that cultivate and support an appreciation for nature and encourage healthy lifestyles.”

Gladstone is part of a six-member board of Park Forest residents.

“We’re very dedicated to the preservation of the parks,” she said, noting that the board put in a tot yard in the Eastgate area and is working to create a play area with sustainable materials in Murphy Park.

“We’re competing with technology. I would like to see kids going to the parks for spontaneous play.”

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.