BOAT RENTALS OPEN MAY 4 AT HERRICK LAKE AND BLACKWELL FOREST PRESERVES

 The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will open its boat-rental area on Herrick Lake at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve in Wheaton on Saturday, May 4 at 8 a.m.
      Silver Lake at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville opened for the season on April 6. At both of these popular locations, boaters can ply the waters in canoes, kayaks and rowboats.
      Rental areas will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through the end of May. From Memorial Day (May 27) through Labor Day (Sept. 2) they will be open weekdays from
11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Boat-rental operations will return to weekends only Sept. 7 through 29 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
      Canoe, kayak and rowboat rentals are $10 per hour and $50 per day. Rowboats with trolling motors, which are only available at Blackwell, are $15 per hour and $75 per day. Only cash is accepted for payment, and a driver’s license is required as a rental deposit. Visitors can also purchase bait. Night crawlers are $2.50 per dozen, and wax worms are $2.50 for three dozen.
      The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County owns and manages 25,000 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Each year more than 4 million visitors enjoy 60 forest preserves, 145 miles of trails, five education centers and scores of programs. To get District e-news in your inbox, sign up at dupageforest.org/e-newsletter. For general information, visit dupageforest.org or call 630-933-7200.