At their October 13 meeting, the Lake County Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners approved the creation of a new forest preserve, the expansion of the newly formed Oak-Hickory preserve, and an addition to the western section of Millennium Trail.
New Preserve in Lake Villa
The Board approved the acquisition of two adjacent properties (Wayne Hummer Trust Co. and Heffernan) to create a new 100-acre preserve in northwest Lake County at a combined cost of $4,381,000. They also approved naming the preserve Bluebird Meadow Forest Preserve.
It is located on Townline Road and Route 59 near Lake Villa. The two parcels consist mainly of undeveloped farm land with rolling topography. Opportunity to restore the lands to oak savanna wetland communities will provide valuable habitat for wildlife species, especially those that migrate from the nearby Chain ‘O Lakes to Sun Lake Forest Preserve just to the west. These species include shorebirds, sandhill cranes, sedge wrens, and bluebirds.
Addition to Oak-Hickory Forest Preserve
The Board approved an 81-acre addition (Van Zelst property) to the recently acquired Oak-Hickory preserve in Wadsworth at a cost of $3,159,000.
The Oak-Hickory additon expands the preserve to approximately 209 acres. The land is currently being farmed, and is located in Newport Township just north of Route 173 and west of Kilbourne Road. Acquiring this property offers an excellent opportunity for extensive wetland restoration.
Addition to the Millennium Trail
The Board also approved a 42-acre addition (Light property) to the Millennium Trail near Volo at a cost of $2,562,000.
The land buy provides opportunity for prairie and savanna restoration and allows for future extension of the western section of the Millennium Trail to Nippersink Forest Preserve in Volo.
Next Steps
The land buys meet continuing land acquisition goals to preserve more open space, protect and restore wildlife habitat, create new trails and improve public access to new and existing preserves.
Each purchase is contingent on a final closing in approximately 60-90 days. If successful, the additions will join an extensive network of open spaces totaling more than 27,300 acres that create the Lake County Forest Preserves.
Site maps:
Bluebird Meadow
Addition to Millennium Trail
Addition to Oak-Hickory |
