The Elmhurst Great Western Prairie is one of only a few remaining remnant prairies. Although much northern Illinois prairie has disappeared, this six-acre parcel of land survived development because of its location between two railroad lines: the Great Western Freight Line on the north boundary and the Chicago-Aurora and Elgin electric commuter line on the south, now known as the Illinois Prairie Path. The Elmhurst Park District acquired this land in the 1970s, and it remains a preserved example of Illinois natural history.
