Proposed 'Greenway' Takes Shape In Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, IL — State officials have approved $1 million in funds to help pay for plans to convert a stretch of open space in Lake County into a greenway or state park.

Last week, the general assembly approved the funds as part of the 2025 state budget, allocating the $1 million to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The IDNR will be tasked with preparing a master land use plan to convert "the vital band of open space that comprised the proposed site of the defunct Route 53 extension into a thriving state park or 'Greenway,'" according to a news release from Openlands.

“This investment is a critical step towards bringing a valuable public amenity to Lake County that would connect more families to nature and recreational opportunities, while providing a variety of ecosystem services and economic development benefits to our region,” said Chris Kessler, director of policy at Openlands. “We appreciate the leadership of Gov. Pritzker and our Lake County state legislators who recognized the amazing opportunity before us to protect this critical landscape and prioritized moving the vision for a greenway forward by securing funding for a master land use plan.”

The proposed Greenway would incorporate the approximately 12-mile linear land corridor where the Route 53 extension was planned before its extinction, linking the communities of Long Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Mundelein, and Grayslake. It will include meadows, creeks, ponds and is meant to be a "sanctuary for wildlife," according to the news release.

In late 2022, a state task force recommended the state fund a working group of local and regional stakeholders to plan for the conversion of the land into a protected natural area accessible to the public. That was followed in early 2023 with the Lake County Board’s vote in favor of a resolution supporting the Greenway.

Pritzker’s proposed $1 million allocation to IDNR, approved by the Illinois General Assembly, would fund initial collaboration on the concept for the site.

“I commend the state government for their visionary decision to allocate funds for the development of a regional wildlife corridor and trail connecting communities from Grayslake to Long Grove,” said Elizabeth Davies, trustee of the Village of Grayslake. “This innovative greenway project exemplifies the type of forward-thinking that enhances the appeal of Lake County for prospective businesses and homebuyers by providing much-desired access to nature and interconnected bike and walking trails. Such projects not only promote healthier lifestyles but also strengthen community bonds, making our region a more attractive and vibrant place to live and work.”

The state budget will go into effect on July 1.

The master planning process for the greenway will incorporate input from stakeholders, environmental assessments and design concepts to determine the amenities, trails, and facilities for the greenway.