New Forest Preserve

Posted April 29th, 2008 at 03:23 PM by IlliniPundit
in

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is closing on a new preserve today.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve closes on the purchase of Cook's land today, with more than a million dollars from two grants, one from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, and the other from the state.

The county's fifth preserve will not be developed much, says forest preserve Executive Director Gerald Pagac.

It doesn't need much work. Much of the land is rolling. Two-hundred-year-old oaks form savannas, and Wildcat Slough feeds into the Sangamon to speed its flow.

The acreage has extensive swaths of oak savanna, floodplain forest and wetlands, said the district's director of natural resources, Daniel Olson.

"It's rare now for a park to be able to acquire land on both sides of a river," Olson added, since rivers often create property boundaries.

I'm really looking forward to getting out there and wandering around.

(Disclosure:  I serve on the CCFPD Foundation Board.)

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On April 29th, 2008 at 06:04 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

I can't wait until it's open to the public....any idea on how long that will take?

Oil Man's picture
On April 30th, 2008 at 11:38 AM, Oil Man said:

It is a great acquisition and a big plus for Champaign County.  Let's hope the CCFPD is not counting on state $'s to pay for this.

On April 30th, 2008 at 11:42 AM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

It's a big plus for the Champaign County elite, probably a minus for poor people and overall economic development of the area.

IlliniPundit's picture
On April 30th, 2008 at 11:55 AM, IlliniPundit said:

Huh?

On April 30th, 2008 at 02:56 PM, CP (not verified) said:

As a board member are you privy to any more details?  Where is this located in relation to county and state roads?  Where will access points be?  Am I getting ahead of myself? 

On April 30th, 2008 at 03:04 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

I think it is a plus for economic development. This county desperately needs more publicly accessible forests. I know when I leave it will be for an area with more hiking trails.

IlliniPundit's picture
On April 30th, 2008 at 03:04 PM, IlliniPundit said:

I've not yet been to the site, and don't know exactly when it will open, but I'll ask.

IlliniPundit's picture
On May 1st, 2008 at 03:10 PM, IlliniPundit said:

I've asked, and been told they're hoping to open by the end of the year. 

The District is being deliberately vague about location because they don't want people using it untl they can accomodate public use.  Mininmal development is planned:  entrance gate and road, parking lot, restroom, picnic shelter, etc.

More details to follow as they get it closer to opening, I'm sure.

flattie's picture
On May 1st, 2008 at 04:06 PM, flattie said:

 

Cool.  Any chance of an off-leash area there?

http://flattie.livejournal.com