The parcel is surrounded by Forest Preserve land on three sides, and is immediately adjacent to the Forest Preserve General Offices at 2000 North Milwaukee Avenue just north of Buckley Road (Route 137).
The property was the former home of the Armour family, of Armour Meats, the famed Chicago meat-packing giant.
The property boasts mature trees ranging from burr oaks to black willows, bluffs and scenic overlooks. The site's varied topography and elevation difference of 30 feet offers scenic views of the lake at Independence Grove Forest Preserve and surrounding open space along the Des Plaines River Greenway.
One of the most valuable natural resource of the land is Bull Creek, which runs through the site and provides protection for the Iowa darter, a threatened and endangered fish species. Restoration of Bull Creek will improve the water quality of the Des Plaines River, and provide additional habitat for a variety of wildlife, including migratory birds that frequent Independence Grove.
The purchase of this property meets the Forest Preserve District's adopted land acquisition goals of protecting valuable natural resources and threatened and endangered species, providing recreational opportunities, flood control protection, and expanding existing preserves. |
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