The Lake County Forest Preserves mean so much to so many. If you would like to honor someone special, remember a loved one, or celebrate a milestone, consider making a commemorative gift to the Forest Preserves through the Preservation Foundation.
Your tax-deductible gift will leave a lasting legacy. All commemorative gifts will support the Habitat Restoration Endowment, which provides a permanent source of support to care for the beautiful restored forest preserves that mean so much to Lake County.
Adopt-An-Acre
$250
With our Adopt-An-Acre program, you can virtually dedicate an acre of your favorite preserve in perpetuity. Once you've chosen your unique location, we'll provide you with the exact coordinates. Email us a picture, and we'll include it on our interactive map so that you can share it with friends and loved ones. While the public will continue to enjoy your acre, know that this small piece of the Forest Preserves is yours forever.
Find Your Acre!
Adopt-A-Trail
$250
With our Adopt-A-Trail program, you can virtually dedicate a segment of your favorite trail in perpetuity. Once you've chosen your unique location, we'll provide you with exact coordinates. Email us a picture, and we'll include it on our interactive map so that you can share it with friends and loved ones. While the public will continue to enjoy your mile of trail, know that this small piece of the Forest Preserves is yours forever.
Find Your Trail!
Trailside Benches
$3,500
When you dedicate a trailside bench, you’ll give that bench new life. Benches will receive new boards, and your permanent dedication will be commemorated with a personalized 4.5” by 1.5” plaque.
Please note that a small number of benches cannot be refurbished based on how they were constructed: for example, benches built into fishing piers or backless benches. Plaques will be added, and any necessary repairs will be made to ensure the bench is safe and accessible.
Please estimate six months for plaques to be fabricated and installed due to long lead times associated with supply chain problems and manufacturing delays.
Bench Agreement Plaque Information
Find Your Bench!
Independence Grove
Garden Benches
$10,000
Install a new garden bench in Millenia Plaza. Your permanent dedication will be recognized with a personalized 4.5” by 1.5” plaque.
Please estimate six months for new bench installation and plaques to be fabricated and installed due to long lead times associated with supply chain problems and manufacturing delays.
Bench Agreement Plaque Information
Find Your Bench!
Plant 1,000 Oaks
$1,000
Oaks are a keystone species in Lake County. More than 5,500 plant, animal, and insect species depend upon oaks for survival, but Lake County has lost 87% of its oaks over the past century. Dedicate an existing, mature oak tree at the preserve of your choice, and we will also plant a new oak at a high-priority restoration area.
When you give to the Plant 1,000 Oaks Campaign, you give a gift to our children’s grandchildren. You make Lake County better, not just for the next generation, but for two, three, or four generations yet to come.
Plant Your Oaks!
Legacy Gifts
We have a variety of commemorative gift opportunities for those who are able to make a leadership gift to support the Habitat Restoration Endowment. Commemorative gifts at this level can be pledged over a period of up to five years and receive permanent, personalized, on-site recognition.
As we grow our endowment, we will celebrate gifts at the $5,000 and $10,000 levels with personalized plaques installed in a permanent honor wall, situated in the heart of Independence Grove – our most visited Forest Preserve. Details to come.
Or you can receive permanent recognition in the Forest Preserve location most meaningful to you. A particular stretch of trail. A specific view with a 300-year-old oak towering in the distance. A specific bridge or boardwalk, tucked away in your favorite preserve. We have a limited number of opportunities to install a permanent, free-standing, personalized donor plaque for gifts at the $25,000 level and above.
Recognition plaques will be installed in mutually agreed-upon locations. Certain locations are associated with minimum gift amounts. Please contact, Erika Stergos, Preservation Foundation Executive Director, estergos@LCFPD.org or 847-968-3129 for more information.
Use the interactive map below to view and find all available commemorative gift opportunities and committed dedications. View larger map.