Step into the serene beauty of Lake County’s expansive forest preserve, where nature thrives and adventure awaits. Exciting news is on the horizon as plans unfold to increase the preserve’s size by an impressive 75 acres! Join us as we delve into the details of this expansion and uncover how it will enhance the allure of one of nature’s most cherished sanctuaries.
Lake County’s Largest Forest Preserve Could Grow By 75 Acres
The largest forest preserve in Lake County, located in southwest Wauconda, may expand by over 75 acres, adding new hiking, cross-country skiing, biking, and equestrian routes to the public park.
On Monday, the Lake County Forest Preserves District Planning Commission gave its approval to two resolutions to buy land in unincorporated Fremont Township: a 74-acre lot and a 1.6-acre parcel known as the Breuer property, both for $295,000.The Air Estates property is 3 acres and is being sold for $1,950,000.
In the event that the Board of Commissioners approves the resolutions, the Lakewood Forest Preserve will grow by 75.9 acres or roughly 57 standard professional football fields. In addition, the Wauconda Reservation provides summer programs, dog parks, ice skating, sledding, and fishing.
Lake County’s largest forest preserve may soon grow by 75 acres; ‘There’s a couple spaces where you’re missing the puzzle piece’ https://t.co/NaGyX8leSy
— Lake County News-Sun (@newssun) April 2, 2024
The district approached the commission with the purchase idea a few years ago, according to Executive Director Alex Ty Kovach, but was forced to explore other initiatives due to financial limitations. According to Kovach, the district has been periodically examining the properties for over ten years.
“We were able to get a match based on appraised value, and this was the first time they were available to us,” he stated.
During the committee meeting on Monday, Kovach stated, “If we don’t take advantage of this opportunity now, it probably won’t arise again for a long time, if ever.”
According to a note from county staff to the planning committee, the acquisition and preservation of these lands satisfies the organization’s aims of offering stunning vistas, complementing existing natural areas, and safeguarding wildlife habitat, prairies, woods, and existing county estates.
The acquisitions would be funded by the proceeds of the $17.5 million in restricted bonds the district intends to issue this month if approved by the Board of Commissioners the following week.
Situated on the western side of Fairfield Road, the smaller Breuer property is roughly half a mile north of Route 176 and half a mile south of Bonner Road. Gilmer Road, around one-mile northwest of Fremont Center Road and one mile southeast of Fairfield Road, is where you’ll find Air Estates.
At the moment, Air Estates contains two single-family residences and two hangers, and Breuergrond has a house and two garages. To ascertain if the buildings can be utilized for district purposes, an inspection will be conducted. The memo stated that the structures would be destroyed if they had no programmatic purpose or historical significance.
According to Kovach, “they are both inside the Lakewood Forest Preserve, and for efficiency, management, and restoration, it is always nice to delineate your boundaries adjacent to an existing forest preserve.”
With a few tiny farms, Air Estates is largely a working wetland estate. If there is interest, district officials indicated they would attempt leasing the farmland to nearby farmers.
A referendum on habitat restoration, land acquisition, and maintenance, valued at around $155 million, is being considered by the forest conservation district for the November ballot. In order to gauge public interest in such a proposal, Kovach stated that the district will survey voters later this spring.
According to Kovach, the first year of the proposal would increase the tax payment by $32.97 for a $300,000 single-family home.
The Manitou Creek Watershed Alliance is thrilled about the possible acquisition and preservation of the two properties, according to Susan Pribyl, a member of the group.
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