Facility Overview

The Riverview Farmstead Preserve Parking Lot serves as the primary designated trailhead and visitor parking area for the historic Riverview Farmstead Preserve, a 430-acre natural conservation and cultural heritage site managed by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Situated along South Book Road just south of 111th Street (Hassert Boulevard) on the southern outskirts of Naperville, Illinois, this open-air surface lot provides smooth, paved asphalt parking integrated seamlessly into the surrounding prairie landscape. Designed in an efficient single-level cul-de-sac and loop format, the lot features approximately 47 delineated standard and accessible stalls with generous driving lanes and ample turning space.

Because the facility is a completely open sky surface lot, there are no overhead clearance restrictions or parking deck height limits. Standard passenger sedans, crossover vehicles, full-size pickup trucks, passenger vans, and SUVs equipped with rooftop cargo carriers, bike racks, or kayak haulers can easily park and navigate without clearance concerns. Small utility and canoe trailers can comfortably traverse the entry driveway loop during off-peak hours, making it an exceptionally accessible portal for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Riverview Farmstead Preserve holds deep regional significance as one of Will County’s premier multi-use riverside preserves, offering scenic waterfronts and historic 19th-century homestead architecture settled by the pioneer Clow family. Prominent points of interest reachable directly from the parking area include:

• Clow Family Homestead & Historic Barns: Located mere steps from the parking lot, visitors can walk up to the mid-1800s limestone farmhouse, early frame residence, and iconic red timber-frame barn that showcase historic Illinois agricultural architecture.
• DuPage River Trail & Canoe/Kayak Launch: Direct paved trailhead connections offer access to the regional multi-use DuPage River Trail (ideal for walking, jogging, cycling, and cross-country skiing) and a dedicated launch site on the DuPage River (100 yards east of the lot) for paddlers.
• Riverview Farmstead Picnic Pavilion: An open-air reservable shelter equipped with electrical service, picnic tables, and ADA-compliant paved paths right adjacent to the parking circle.
• Surrounding Community Hubs: The lot is just a 5-to-10-minute drive from the retail hubs of Naperville and Plainfield along Route 59, Tamarack Golf Club (3 miles west), and Springbrook Prairie Nature Preserve (a short drive north).

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The parking lot is accessed via a dedicated entrance driveway branching directly off South Book Road, roughly one-quarter mile south of 111th Street / Hassert Boulevard. Approaching drivers benefit from clear Forest Preserve District of Will County brown-and-white roadside signage indicating the entrance. Entering and exiting the lot is straightforward, with a dedicated two-way approach that concludes in a wide vehicular turnaround loop, reducing reversing hazards and keeping traffic moving steadily even during busy community events.

Regional vehicular access is convenient via major arterial routes including Route 59 to the west, 111th Street (Hassert Boulevard) to the north, and Route 119/127th Street to the south, connecting drivers swiftly to Interstate 55 to the south and Interstate 88 to the north. While public transit does not run directly into the preserve itself, regional commuter access is available via the Naperville and Route 59 Metra BNSF stations located about 15 to 20 minutes north by car or rideshare service.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Free Public Parking: Fully open to the public free of charge during official park hours with no permit required for standard parking.
• Paved Surface Lot: High-grade asphalt paving with clearly marked individual parking bays and directional arrows.
• ADA Accessibility: Designated van-accessible ADA parking spaces positioned closest to the paved DuPage River Trail connector path and the picnic pavilion.
• Open-Air Clearance: Wide-open headspace accommodating tall vehicles, camper vans, and rooftop gear racks.
• Park Amenities Nearby: Direct access to public latrine restrooms, trash/recycling receptacles, interpretive informational kiosks, and picnic areas.
• Safety & Visibility: Excellent open daylight sightlines surrounded by managed prairie and patrolled regularly by the Forest Preserve District of Will County Police.

Ideal For

• Hikers, Runners, and Cyclists: Excellent staging ground for hitting the paved DuPage River Trail.
• Kayakers and Canoers: Convenient parking near the DuPage River launch for unstrapping and transporting watercraft.
• Photographers and History Enthusiasts: Direct foot access to historic limestone buildings, iconic red barns, and prairie backdrops.
• Family Picnickers: Easy unloading access for gatherings at the 50-person Riverview Farmstead Shelter.
• Nature Lovers and Birders: Prime river and prairie habitat attracting ospreys, bats, and rare grassland songbirds.

Visitor & Driver Tips

The preserve is open daily from 8:00 AM until sunset year-round (closed on Christmas Day). Because the lot contains fewer than 50 spaces, it can fill up rapidly on pleasant weekend mornings, sunny summer afternoons, and during scheduled shelter gatherings. Arrive early to secure your spot, especially if you plan to unload bikes or watercraft. Parking is restricted strictly to marked spaces—parking along the driveway grass or shoulder is strictly prohibited and subject to ticketing by preserve police. Lastly, please observe park carry-in, carry-out policies to keep this treasured natural habitat clean for all visitors.