Fiscal Year 2025 Lake Forest Open Lands Achievements Land Preservation and Advocacy Finished the installation for the new preserve infrastructure and amenities at the Carruthers Nature Preserve (NP) and opened the preserve to the public. Completed the process of engineering, design, and permitting work for the preserve infrastructure at our oldest preserve along the Middlefork—West Skokie NP. Made significant progress on Phase II of the Greene NP’s restoration, which entails the design, engineering, and permitting of a resilient bluff and near shore as well as additional ravine restoration in partnership with our Indigenous partners. Finalized a substantial slope repair project at Greene NP, utilizing nature- based solutions with funding from the Great Lakes Commission and Lake County’s Watershed Management Board. Submitted the first part of Land Trust Alliance’s (LTA) re-accreditation. We are the first Land Trust to go through this process for the fourth time in Illinois. Commenced the process for accepting the reassignment of 11 conservation easements in Lake Bluff from Lake Bluff Open Lands and Openlands (Chicago). Secured the donation of a new conservation easement in Lake Bluff, adjacent to Lake Forest Cemetery.
Acquired a long-term organizational priority along the Middlefork—Hawk Meadow, a 28-acre remnant savanna and meadow. Acquired a .78-acre Lot 2 at McCormick Ravine from the City of Lake Forest. Released a series of videos comprised
of on-site interviews with all the key stakeholders in the preservation of Mello’s Preserve at Westfork Savanna, the organization’s largest land donation.
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