When submitting eBird observations at Forest Park, it is most helpful to start a new checklist for each hotspot in the park. Use the general hotspot when you have a checklist that includes multiple locations or if no other hotspot or personal location is appropriate for your sightings.

Forest Park is one of the largest urban, municipal parks in the United States, covering 735 acres of land in Springfield. The park was established in 1884 with donations from local philanthropists, such as Everett Hosmer Barney, who also built a mansion on the park grounds. The park features a zoo, aquatic gardens, an outdoor amphitheater, and winding wooded trails. The park also hosts a popular high-tech lighting display called Bright Nights during the holiday months.