Belmont Prairie was just a field where neighborhood kids played until it was discovered in the 1970s after a nearby neighbor turned in a photography assignment that led instructors to ask where the pictures were taken. Botanists and ecological experts found a 10 acre remnant prairie supporting more than 300 plant species, from Purple Coneflower to the Illinois-threatened White Lady's Slipper Orchid. In 1979, Belmont Prairie became the first Illinois Nature Preserve in DuPage County and the 75th in the state. Since then, the Downers Grove Park District has cared for the prairie and added an additional 15 acres to the south and west as a buffer to this fragile ecosystem, while volunteer stewards assist with restoration work including brush clearing and seed collection and sowing. Prairie plants are mainly perennials with extensive, deep root systems and growing points slightly below ground level, traits that help them survive occasional drought, grazing, and necessary burning. Their roots often extend deeper than the stems above ground, and as some roots die and decompose each year, they add large quantities of organic matter to the soil.
