Cuba Marsh, Deer Park

Bowers property
Acreage: 9.4
Approval: November 2024 | Closing: January 2025

• Location: Cuba Road east of Ela Road.
• Purchase price: $725,000.
• Context: Surrounded by Forest Preserves land on two sides.
• Stewardship: Former owner cleared buildings and planted native species.
• Restrictions: No buildings, trails, parking lots, ball fields, golf facilities or dog areas allowed.
• Next step: District required to submit for Illinois Nature Preserve designation.

Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, Lake Forest

U.S. Navy parcel
Acreage: 18.6
Approval: July 2024 | Closing: Pending

• Location: East side of Patten Road, Highwood.
• Purchase price: $6 million.
• Borders: Openlands Lakeshore Preserve at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve on three sides.
• Benefit: Protects bluff and ravine habitat, scenic views.

Grant Woods Forest Preserve, Ingleside

Woodville property1
Acreage: 0.85
Approval: January 2026 | Closing: April 2026

• Location: East side of Route 59, just south of Monaville Road.
• Purchase price: $37,000.
• Benefit: Improves continuity of the preserve and supports long-term conservation goals.

Woodville property 2
Acreage: 0.85
Approval: May 2026 | Closing: Pending

• Location: East side of Route 59, just south of Monaville Road.
• Purchase price: $37,500.
• Context: Surrounded by Forest Preserves land on three sides and directly south of the previous Woodville purchase.
• Benefit: Strengthens the preserve’s boundary and improves habitat continuity.

Greenbelt Forest Preserve, North Chicago

Klairmont Family LLC property
Acreage: 13.2
Approval: October 2024 | Closing: January 2025

• Location: Route 120, east of Willow Avenue and west of the Belvidere Discount Mall.
• Purchase price: $3.25 million.
• Benefit: Expands Greenbelt in a densely populated area.
• Future use: May allow trail and crosswalk connection.

Half Day Forest Preserve, Vernon Hills

Tunca Management property
Acreage: 9
Approval: June 2025 | Closing: Pending

• Location: Jamestown Lane, a quarter mile east of Milwaukee Avenue.
• Purchase price: $37,300.
• Trail: Secures Des Plaines River Trail easement.
• Benefit: Enhances trail access and wetland protection.
• History: Targeted for acquisition for more than 35 years.

Kestrel Ridge Forest Preserve, Round Lake

Wilson Road Livestock property
Acreage: 143
Approval: August 2025 | Closing: October 2025      

• Location: North of Route 120 and east of Wilson Road.
• Purchase price: $3.59 million.
• Trail: Includes part of the Millennium Trail within an existing Forest Preserves easement.
• Benefit: Strengthens the trail corridor for future maintenance and improvements.
• Current use: Vacant land leased for farming.

Goshgarian property
Acreage: 25.1
Approval: March 2026 | Closing: June 2026

• Location: Nippersink Road, about one-third of a mile west of Fairfield Road.
• Purchase price: $923,000.
• Ecology: Protects nearly 500 feet of Manitou Creek, pocket wetlands and mature oaks and hickories.
• Benefit: Extends the preserve’s boundary to Nippersink Road and improves access.
• Life estate: Owners will continue living in their home on about 1.4 acres.

Lakewood Forest Preserve, Wauconda

Air Estates property
Acreage: 74.1
Approval: April 2024 | Closing: August 2024

• Location: Gilmer Road near Fairfield Road.
• Purchase price: $1.95 million.
• Note: Lakewood borders property on three sides.
• Land type: Primarily wetlands and farmland.
• History: Once envisioned as an aviation community.

Breuer property
Acreage: 1.6
Approval: April 2024 | Closing: July 2024\

•        Location: West side of Fairfield Road between Bonner Road and Route 176.
• Purchase price: $295,000.
• Ecology: Protects high-quality habitat.
• Scenic value: Preserves views, prairies and wetlands.
• Benefit: Strengthens continuous habitat corridors.       

Jarnowski property
Acreage: 29.4
Approval: February 2026 | Closing: May 2026

• Location: Northeast side of Rand Road in unincorporated Fremont and Ela townships.
• Purchase price: $2.1 million.
• Ecology: Connects to and protects important wetlands within Lakewood.
• Benefit: Strengthens the preserve’s southern boundary and supports long-term conservation.

Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church
Acreage: 13.4
Approval: March 2026 | Closing: Pending

• Location: Fairfield Road, about a quarter mile north of Route 176, adjacent to the Lakewood Off-Leash Dog Area.
• Purchase price: $3,994,100.
• Context: Surrounded by existing preserve land.
• History: Targeted for acquisition for more than 20 years.
• Current use: Seminary with dormitories, apartments and a gymnasium.
• Future use: Buildings will be evaluated for operational needs, including possible seed storage.

Richmond property
Acreage: 1.25
Approval: October 2026 | Closing: Pending

• Location: Wauconda Road, about 1,200 feet south of Bonner Road. 
• Ecology: Vacant parcel adjoining Lakewood land within Broberg Marsh Nature Preserve.
• Scenic value: Preserves views, prairies and wetlands.
• Benefit: Protects wildlife habitat, forests and scenic views and strengthens protection of neighboring natural areas.

Steffenhagen property
Acreage: 54.5
Approval: March 2025 | Closing: May 2025

• Location: Gilmer Road, less than a mile north of Route 176.
• Purchase price: $1.4 million.
• Restoration: Supports long-term restoration.
• Features: Woodlands, prairies and wetlands.

Lotus Country Conservation Preserve, Antioch

Elliott W. Frank, LLC property 1
Acreage: 4.6
Approval: September 2026 | Closing: Pending

• Location: Northwest corner of Rena and Highland avenues, about a half mile south of Grass Lake Road.
• Purchase price: $450,000.
• Context: Bordered by the preserve on two sides.
• Ecology: Adds a buffer around Lake County’s largest heron and egret rookery.
• Benefit: Improves staff access and brings the preserve to about 80 acres.
• Future use: Existing buildings will be evaluated for possible use or removal. No parking lots or trails are planned to protect the rookery.

Fogel property
Acreage: 41
Approval: August 2024 | Closing: October 2024

• Location: East of Grass Lake Road, next to Vern Thelen Park.
• Purchase price: $358,500.
• Wildlife: Home to Lake County’s largest heron and egret rookery.
• Land type: Contains wetlands and wooded areas.

Elliott W. Frank LLC property 2
Acreage: 34.2
Approval: March 2025 | Closing: May 2025

• Location: Rena Avenue, a quarter mile south of Grass Lake Road.
• Purchase price: $960,000.
• Ecology: Wetlands and woodlands expand rookery protection.

Mshkodé Forest Preserve, Winthrop Harbor

LEH Limited Partnership and Har-Bar Inc. properties
Acreage: 120
Approval: August 2025 | Closing: November 2025

• Name: Mshkodé (pronounced mish-coe-deh) is a Potawatomi word meaning “prairie.”
• Location: Lewis Avenue between 5th and 9th streets.
• Purchase price: $4.59 million.
• Features: Open space, wetlands and scenic views.
• Connectivity: Borders the Robert McClory Bike Path.
• Benefit: Expands access to nature in an underserved part of the county.
• Current use: Both parcels are leased for farming.

Raven Glen Forest Preserve, Antioch

Yatowt property
Acreage: 27.9
Approval: January 2025 | Closing: May 2025

• Location: Deep Lake Road, about a half mile south of Route 173.
• Purchase price: $954,000.
• Ecology: Protects more than 14 acres of valuable wetlands and buffer.
• Benefit: Helps reduce flooding and manage stormwater.

Vander Meer property
Acreage: 36.35
Approval: October 2026 | Closing: Pending

• Location: Deep Lake Road, about one-half mile south of Route 173.
• Purchase price: $1.52 million.
• Benefit: Fills a gap between existing sections of the preserve, creating a wildlife corridor once restored.

Ray Lake Forest Preserve, Wauconda

Sidhu property
Acreage: 38.7
Approval: June 2025 | Closing: Pending (2026)

• Location: Fremont Center Road, about a quarter mile north of Gilmer Road.
• Purchase price: $1.16 million.
• Land type: Includes oak woodlands, farmland and floodplain.
• Benefit: Supports a key regional wetland complex.
• Connectivity: Unites this site with Lakewood for both wildlife and visitors.

Giambrone property
Acreage: 52.3
Approval: October 2025 | Closing: March 2026

• Location: North of Gilmer Road and east of Fairfield Road.
• Purchase price: $4.3 million.

Honey G. Farms property
Acreage: 80.9
Approval: October 2025 | Closing: March 2026

• Location: North of Gilmer Road and east of Fairfield Road.
• Purchase price: $1.8 million.

Combined benefits of Giambrone and Honey G. Farms additions:

• Ecology: Protects about 40 acres of wetlands, remnant oak trees and native plants.
• Restoration: Will help the landscape hold and filter water, improving water quality and reducing flooding.
• Cost savings: Avoids about $1.2 million in storm pipe replacement costs.
• Future use: Supports creation of a wetland mitigation bank.