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Land Preserved through 2005
Referendum:
Thanks to
the foresight and generosity of the Kane County voters in 2005
approving a $75 million land acquisition and improvement bond, the
Forest Preserve District of Kane County has successfully protected over
3,100 acres of additional open space this past year. This was
accomplished by leveraging the $75 million bond with almost $23 million
in bond interest earnings, intergovernmental contributions, grants and
non-referendum bond moneys for a total of almost $98 million to acquire
the 3,100 acres at an average cost of approximately $31,500 per acre.
Organized in 1925 by public referendum, the Mission of the Forest
Preserve District of Kane County is to acquire, hold, and maintain
lands within Kane County, which contribute to the preservation of
natural and historic resources and habitats, flora and fauna; to
restore, restock, protect and preserve such lands for the education,
recreation, and pleasure of all its citizens.
The District has displayed a driven passion for preserving open space
since the passing of the 1999 land acquisition and improvement bond
totaling $70 million. Over 5,700 acres were preserved between 1999 and
2005 with those funds, allowing the District to grow from approximately
7,900 to 13,600 acres. The District now, in 2007, owns more than 80
properties consisting of more than 16,700 acres. These acquisitions
will improve water quality, help control flooding and improve air
quality, along with helping to manage growth for generations to come!
Virgil
Forest Preserve
This
important 1,139 acre acquisition represents the first forest preserve
in Virgil Township and one of the largest preserves held by the Forest
Preserve District to date. The property, located just north of Virgil's
historic downtown, was established through the assemblage of six
connecting parcels. Working with the Village, the creation of this
protected open space replaced the planned development of over 1,600
homes. Connecting to the Great Western Trail to the south, this
property offers numerous recreational and open space opportunities to
this quickly developing area.
Boy Scout
Property Acquisition
Containing
rolling kettle and kame topography, rich wetlands and oak woodland,
make the former 263 acre Camp Tomo-Chi-Chi an important link between
the Freeman Kame-Meagher and the Nyman Forest Preserves in Rutland
Township. Now the District's largest land holding at 1,231 acres, the
property stretches from I90 from the south continuing to the north
beyond Powers Road in the County's critical growth area. Natural
resources improvements and
Big Rock
Forest Preserve Addition
116 acres
of idyllic countryside were purchased from Ms. Marvel Davis to expand
the Big Rock Forest Preserve to 572 acres. Big Rock Creek, one of the
few Grade A streams in Illinois, flows through this parcel along its
southern boundary continuing through the Big Rock Forest Preserve to
the east. Located along Jericho Road in Big Rock Township, this
acquisition has been a desired addition for many years.
Grunwald
Farms Forest Preserve
Two
acquisitions make up this new 237 acre preserve bordering Main Street
to the south and I88 to the east in Blackberry Township. A total of
$1,180,000 was received in State grants to assist with this acquisition
including a Clean Energy Grant of $430,000 and an IDNR Open Space Lands
Acquisition and Development Grant of $750,000. A more diverse mix of
natural area types and recreational opportunities may not exist
anywhere else in Kane County. The 183 acre property to the east
features a high quality kame and fen as well as an oak hickory
woodland, small pond and existing nature trails. The adjoining 54 acre
parcel to the west was recently mined which presented the opportunity
to reclaim the site into a 13-acre lake for non-motorized boating and
fishing. This site also was used to provide additional trails and house
necessary infrastructure such as roadway and parking. This new preserve
was acquired and improved for public use all within 10 months.
Aurora West
Forest Preserve Addition
205 acres
of land was added to the north of the preserve along Lake Run Stream in
Sugar Grove Township in the county's critical growth area. This
acquisition has enabled this preserve to grow to over 714 acres, allows
for watershed protection and floodwater return as well as creating a
connection to the north with Lake Run Forest Preserve. Sandhill cranes
loaf in the fields of this preserve as numerous waterfowl find comfort
in recreational wetlands.
Lake Run
Forest Preserve Addition
25 acres
was added to the Lake Run Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove in the
county's critical growth area. This acquisition represents the
District's continuing efforts to connect this preserve with Aurora West
Forest Preserve to the south along the Lake Run Stream. Lake Run Forest
Preserve has grown to over 282 acres providing a wildlife habitat
between the two preserves and continuing our mission of protecting
waterways.
Burlington
Prairie Forest Preserve Addition
269 acres
of property including relic woodlands of mature oaks were added to this
preserve in Burlington Township in the county's far west area, bringing
its total acreage to almost 700. A State Grant totaling $515,000 was
received from Open Lands Trust to assist in the acquisition. With
slightly rolling topography, the woodlands, prairie, and a 20-acre
state nature preserve, this is one of the county's highest quality
vestiges of native Illinois.
Johnson's
Mounds Forest Preserve Addition
Filled with
local legend and lore of early Kane County settlers and Native American
haunts, the Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve has grown to a total of 743
acres with the acquisition of this 170 acre parcel owned by the Compton
family along Pouley Road in Blackberry Township in the County's
critical growth area. This parcel is a critical conservation piece for
the Hughes Creek branch of Blackberry Creek as well as a buffer for the
State Nature Preserve that exists in the preserve.
Bowes Creek
Woods Forest Preserve
Two
acquisitions make up this new 247.7 acre preserve located in Plato
Township between Dittman and Crawford Roads in the county's critical
growth area. The preserve features Bowes Creek meandering along its
southern border through a woodland, a majestic grove of old-growth oaks
amongst a hay field, and a beautiful rolling topography. Two State IDNR
Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grants totaling $1,500,000
were awarded to assist in these acquisitions.
Hampshire
South Forest Preserve
This new
preserve is located east of French Road and north of Lenschow Road in
Hampshire Township in the County's far west area. The preserve features
a lake and creek (tributary of Burlington Creek) on its 179.5 acres. It
has a long and proud farming history as well as natural history of
sedge meadows and prairie.
Burlington
Township Acquisition
This second
Burlington Township acquisition, just south of Ellithorpe Road in the
County's far west area, totals almost 154 acres. Currently farmland,
this property was once oak savannah and with its rich soils has the
potential to be restored as such again.
Leroy Oaks
Forest Preserve Addition
More of the
sinuous and gravel bottomed Ferson Creek was protected with a 30 acre
acquisition just east of Randall Road. The preserve, located in St.
Charles Township in the County's urban area, continues to be one of the
District's larger holdings now at over 752 acres. The property also
enables a pedestrian link to be established from Randall Road at Dean
Street, east over the creek to Crane Road.