Grant From ComEd Will Help Lyman Woods Expand Pollinator Habitat

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Lyman Woods recently received a $3,500 grant from ComEd's Green Region Grant Program to help expand its Snappy’s Bridge Pollinator Passage Project.

The two-acre prairie habitat is home to pollinators that include the rusty-patched bumble bee, which is federally endangered. The Downers Grove Park District will use the grant funds to restore .25 acres of the habitat, clearing out invasive plants and adding native wildflowers, shrubs and grass to support the pollinators.

Educational signage will be added to provide information for visitors about the habitat and its native pollinators.

“This grant allows us to enhance one of the most ecologically significant areas of Lyman Woods while creating additional opportunities for the community to connect with nature,” Ryan Maywin, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation in the Nature & Museums Division at the Downers Grove Park District, said in a statement.

Maywin added, “By restoring native habitat and expanding educational opportunities, we’re helping protect local wildlife and creating a healthier environment for future generations.”

Established in 2013, ComEd's Green Region Grant Program has dedicated over $2.5 million to support local conservation and restoration efforts in Northern Illinois. The initiative has fostered the creation of 86,000 ADA-accessible trails and the restoration of more than 1,800 acres of open space.