Seasonal prescribed burns planned for Naperville parks
Naperville Park District will conduct prescribed, or controlled, burns at a dozen parks this fall.
The burns will be done by trained maintenance crews and will take place under the right wind and weather conditions, park district officials said in a news release. They’re done to improve the health of an ecosystem by clearing the ground of invasive weeds and reducing leaf and plant debris.
Weather permitting, the burns will take place at Ashwood Park, Commissioners Park, Dorthea Weigand Riverfront Park, DuPage River Park, DuPage River Sports Complex, Frontier Sports Complex, Knoch Knolls Park, Pioneer Park, Springbrook Parkway, Summerfield Lake Park, Tall Grass Lakes Park and Wolf’s Crossing Community Park, the release said.
For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org/prescribedburns.
Health department adds more naloxone distribution boxes
Will County Health Department had added 10 additional naloxone, or Narcan, distribution boxes throughout the county, bringing the total number to 20.
The boxes provide free, easy access to naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose and help reduce opioid overdose deaths, the health department said in a news release. The drug can begin working within minutes to restore breathing and consciousness.
All 20 of the distribution boxes were donated by Saved My Life, an Illinois nonprofit that provides free naloxone in public spaces and businesses throughout the state.
Among the box locations are Lewis University campus and the DuPage Township Food Pantry in Romeoville, Will County Health Department’s Joliet and Bolingbrook offices, and the Will County Courthouse, Will County Office Building and the Veterans Assistance Commission in Joliet.
Naloxone also can be obtained and training is available by emailing sui@willcountyhealth.org.
Energy assistance program opens in Oct. 1 for eligible households
DuPage County will begin accepting applications Oct. 1 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for certain eligible households.
Funds are available to help income-eligible households with natural gas, propane and/or electric bills and inoperable heating systems, a county news release said. The program provides one-time benefits to help with energy bills or to reconnect energy service.
Applications will be accepted Oct. 1 for adults 60 and older, people with disabilities and families with children 5 or younger. Applications will also be accepted for households that are disconnected from their utilities, have a disconnection notice or have less than 25% in their propane tank, officials said.
All other income-eligible households can apply starting Nov. 1.
Applications will be accepted at the DuPage County Community Services, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton. Several nonprofits and local township offices also take applications.
Applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis through Aug. 15, 2026, or until funding is exhausted. Homeowners who have a non-working heating system may be eligible for free repairs, county officials said.
Starting Jan. 1, income-eligible program customers of ComEd will receive a monthly discount on their electric bill through the Low Income Discount Rates program.
For more information, go to tinyurl.com/LIHEAP-APPT or call DuPage County Community Services at 630-407-6500 starting Wednesday, Sept. 17.
