Municipalities, school districts, park districts, and forest preserve districts are critical entities for bringing natural landscaping into the public eye. This can be done through educational programs such as nature walks and talks, exhibits, and volunteer days sponsored by the above organizations. These opportunities provide positive examples of public land management and increase the awareness and understanding of the public about the community which they reside. Passive recreation opportunities Natural landscapes provide recreational opportunities such as bird watching and photography. The diverse colors, shapes, sounds, textures, odors, and tastes found in the natural environment provide the observer with sensory experiences not found in more sterile, traditional landscapes.
Nature offers both tranquillity and excitement.
It can serve as a place to relax, a place of diversity and excitement. By incorporating native landscaping throughout the community, it also offers the opportunity for children to experience and learn from nature in their own yard and community. Enhanced regional recreational corridors Photo courtesy of Lake County Forest Preserve District Recreational activities such as walking, running, bicycling and skating are extremely popular. Increasingly, these activities are accommodated by local and regional trails and greenways. Natural landscaping in greenways can help create new attractive recreation areas, rejuvenate others, and provide connecting corridors.