Openlands To Gift Lakeshore Preserve To Lake County Forest Preserves

WAUKEGAN, IL — The conservation nonprofit Openlands has offered to give its 77-acre lakeshore preserve and a $1.29 million endowment to Lake County.

On June 14, Lake County Forest Preserve commissioners are set to approve an agreement with Openlands to transfer about 1 mile of Lake Michigan shoreline to the county, which would add the land to the Forest Sheridan Forest Preserve.

Located in unincorporated Moraine Township on part of the former Fort Sheridan Army Base, the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve has been closed to the public for for more than two years following the discovery of unexploded ordnance.

County officials hope to reopen the preserve to the public this summer.

“We are thrilled to add this additional parcel, which will result in nearly 2 miles of contiguous, publicly-accessible shoreline at Fort Sheridan,” Lake County Forest Preserves Executive Director Alex Ty Kovach said in a statement. “A scenic destination, this stately preserve offers a variety of opportunities to recreate in nature.”

Over the next few years, Forest Preserves staff intend to draw up a master plan for the new area and how to integrate it into its existing parks.

---

“Openlands did an excellent job creating accessible trails through the sensitive ravine and blufftop habitats, installing bridges and staircases and did exceptional restoration work,” Kovach said. “We look forward to building on their investments in the site to incorporate the new acreage into the Fort Sheridan experience.”

The Fort Sheridan army base shut down in 1988, and nearly 260 acres of the site was transferred to the Lake County Forest Preserves in 1995, while the south end of the base was transferred to the Navy.

The Chicago-based nonprofit and land trust acquired the remaining 77 acres of the base in phases in 2007 and 2010 following a fundraising campaign.

The site is home to at least six threatened and endangered plant species, and every year thousands of migrating birds rest at the preserve, which is of statewide ecological significance, according to a news release announcing the deal.

“This is a perfect example of how the Forest Preserves and the Preservation Foundation collaborate with partners like Openlands to maintain biodiversity and ensure that no further species are lost in Lake County,” said Angelo Kyle, board president of the Lake County Forest Preserves. “Our shared commitment to protect and restore open space brings us together in this critical mission.”

In addition to gifting the land to public, the nonprofit is establishing an endowment to support the ongoing management of the site. The $1.29 million fund will be transferred to the Preservation Foundation, the nonprofit partner of the Forest Preserves.

"The endowment will provide a permanent source of support to care for the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve at Fort Sheridan today and forever," Kovach said.

According to Openlands representatives, the nonprofit saved the land from development and invested in increased public access. They cited the installation of bridges, staircases and trails, restoring the ravine ecosystem, commissioning art installations and developing outdoor gathering spaces.

Jerry Adelmann, Openlands President and CEO, said the organization has collaborated with the forest preserves for many years.

"Openlands has a long, successful track record of acquiring critical parcels and transferring them at the appropriate time to qualified landowners," Adelmann said. "Public agencies ranging from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources regularly look to us for such partnerships."

In March, Openlands officials announced in March the Navy had completed its report and reopening recommendations for the preserve and submitted to state environmental officials. Patch has requested a copy of the report, which has yet to be publicly released.

The resolution to acquire the property was approved unanimously by members of the Lake County Forest Preserve Planning Committee.

According to the forest preserve's announcement of the deal, the county will conduct its own safety analysis at the site before allowing the public to return.

Openlands representatives said they expected county officials to provide more information about the reopening process after approval of the final agreement by the full board.

Earlier:

• Navy's Openlands Explosives Report, Reopening Recommendations Complete [March 2023]
• Openlands Prepares Site Reopening Plan For Lakeshore Preserve [October 2022]
• Explosives Probe: Experts Convene At Openlands Lakeshore Preserve [December 2021]
• Navy Starts Explosives Assessment Of Openlands Lakeshore Preserve [September 2021]
• No End In Sight For Closure Of Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Beach [May 2021]