May 11, 2010

1. Bluebird Meadow: 56-acre addition

2. Des Plaines River Trail: 5-acre addition

3. Almond Marsh: 30-acre addition

4. ComEd Trail easements: 36 acres

5. A combination of 4 land purchases to form a new Forest Preserve and expand Prairie Stream

• New Preserve: 747.7 acres

• Prairie Stream Addition: 26-acres

With these

acquisitions, the

Forest Preserve

holdings will be

approaching

29,000 acres.

PROTECT…............. Wildlife Habitat

PRESERVE…............ Wetland, Prairies & Forests

PROVIDE………….. Trails, River and Lake Access

PROTECT…............. Against Flooding

EXPAND………….... Existing Preserves

SAVE………............. Large Refuges

ASSIST…….............. County with Farmland Preservation

• Land purchase totaling approximately 56 acres.

• Increases Bluebird Meadow to 156 acres.

Purchase price: $2.632 million

Price per acre: $47,000

Located east of Route 59 on the

north side of Petite Lake Rd.

• A combination of oak grove and Advanced Identification (ADID) wetlands.

• Allows for the protection and expansion of wetlands and woodlands found at Bluebird Meadow Forest Preserve.

• Rolling topography with a more than 50 ft elevation difference.

Bluebird Meadow

• Land purchase totaling approximately 5 acres.

Purchase price: $425,000

Approximate Price per acre: $86,700

Located on Hwy 41, along the east

side of the Des Plaines River.

• Bordered on the north, west & east by Forest Preserve property and to the south by Route 41.

• Allows for the elimination of an in-holding and improves District boundaries.

• Provides excellent access for river management and trail maintenance.

• Potential canoe launch in the future.

• Land purchase totaling approximately 30 acres.

• Protects 900 ft of frontage along Almond Rd.

Purchase price: $1.95 million

Price per acre: $65,000

Located south of Route 120 on the

east side of Almond Road

• Liberty Prairie Reserve is a nationally recognized public-private partnership in land conservation.

• A continuous effort of residents and organizations working together to preserve open space for people and wildlife.

• Approximately 3400 acres have been protected within the Reserve.

Currently Owned Forest Preserve Properties

Current Forest Preserve Easements

Globe-Getz Property

Other Properties, Owned or Protected by Easements

Singing Hills

CountrysideLakewood

Rollins Savanna

Marl Flat

Independence Grove

DPR Trail

Almond Marsh

• Allows for the protection of an ADIDwetland and oak-hickory woodland.

• Assists in the preservation of the beautiful, rural and scenic character of Almond Rd.

• Allows for management of a small vernal pool which eventually flows under Almond Road and drains into Almond Marsh Forest Preserve.

• Allows for protection of a high quality sedge meadow and hemi marsh habitat.

• Excellent opportunity for restoration of oak-hickory woodland.

• An important piece in the much larger matrix of preserved habitat and farmland within Liberty Prairie Reserve.

• Recreational Leases for the District to operate and maintain multiuse public trails on the Com Ed right-of-way.

• Leases total 36.5 acres.

A combination of 4 land purchases come together forming a

New Preserve in Antioch & Newport Township: 747.7-acres

Prairie Stream addition: 26-acre

• Total purchase price: $32.6 Million

• Average Price per acre: $42,134

Located south of State Line Rd from

Route 45 to Crawford Rd and

south of Edwards Rd

2000

2001

351.5 Acres827 Acres

2002

830.6 Acres

2003

1012.8 Acres

2004

1165.9 Acres

2005

1234.7 Acres

2006

1241.5 Acres

2008

1533.9 Acres

2010

2336.7 Acres

20002010

•Land purchase totaling approximately 186 acres.

• Potential wetland restoration area.

•Significant trail and recreational uses possible.

Purchase price: $7.4 million

Price per acre: $39,784

•Land purchase totaling approximately 36.7 acres.

• Allows for protection and expansion of oak woodland

•Opportunity to create wetland communities.

Purchase price: $1.174 million

Price per acre: $32,000

•Land purchase totaling approximately 541 acres.

•New Preserve: 515 acres

•Prairie Stream addition: 26 acres

Purchase price: $23.5 million

Approximate Price per acre: $43,438

•Land purchase totaling approximately 10 acres.

• Heavily wooded due to participation in IDNR forestry program.

•Directly west of Pine Dunes across Crawford Rd.

Purchase price: $525,000

Price per acre: $52,500

• Acquisition will provide nesting and foraging areas for bird, reptile and amphibian species that require large wetland and grassland areas .

• Opportunity to recreate large scale wetland communities.

• Provides additional buffer and restoration areas for nearby Red Wing Slough Natural Area.

Prairie Stream

Pine Dunes

• Potential for extensive trail systems including small loops and long distance trail connections to Raven Glen and Ethel’s Woods forest preserves.

• Possible equestrian trails with connections to Pine Dunes and Prairie Stream forest preserves.

• Excellent high viewing points for possible overlooks and birding opportunities.

• Protection and restoration of a 1 mile segment of Dutch Gap Canal from the Wisconsin border to Edwards Rd, plus an additional .25 mile south.

• This area is identified as a Conservation Opportunity Area” by the IDNR Fish & Wildlife Action Plan, which determines long term funding opportunities.

• This area is also identified by Chicago Wilderness as a critical area for wetland restoration.