A dedication ceremony at the Wapello Land & Water Reserve is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11.
The 79-acre site, located south of downtown Hanover on Illinois 84, was purchased in 2006 with the idea of restoring and reconstructing the native prairie that once existed there. The Northwest Illinois Prairie Enthusiasts, the Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois and the Friends of Hanover Land & Archeological Reserve assisted in the effort.
The area boasts native plants, wildflowers, trees and shrubs. There also is a series of mowed trails with interpretive signs that take hikers to points of interest, including the banks of the Apple River and the remains of a Native American village.
Following the dedication, local archeologists will provide guided tours of the site. The event concludes at 5 p.m. with an organic roast beef supper at the Hanover Township Park District building.
