Lake County Forest Preserves Unveils Roadmap For Next Four Years

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Forest Preserves has adopted a new roadmap outlining how it will manage more than 31,900 acres of protected land and expand public access through 2030.

The strategic objectives focus on conservation, habitat restoration, completing voter-approved projects, financial sustainability and connecting more residents with the county's natural areas, forest preserve officials said.

“This plan gives us a clear path forward at an important moment for the Forest Preserves,” Executive Director Ty Kovach said. “Residents have entrusted us with protecting more land, restoring wildlife habitat and improving public access. These objectives will help us fulfill that commitment while building an organization capable of caring for these investments well into the future.”

The plan comes as the Forest Preserves works to complete projects approved by voters in the 2024 referendum, while also planning for the long-term maintenance of newly acquired properties.

Conservation

The Forest Preserves plans to emphasize ecosystem-based planning and operational sustainability as it moves forward with its 10-year Capital Improvement Plan.

Officials also want to reduce carbon dioxide emissions tied to energy use by 15% by 2030, eliminate single-use plastics where alternatives exist by the end of 2027 and increase the use of natural and mechanical alternatives to chemical herbicides, according to the news release.

The agency also plans to work with partners and funders on the long-term sustainability of the Lake Plain Coastal Preserves, a 10,000-acre ecological complex that is the county's first of its kind.

Public Access

Completing projects funded through the 2024 referendum is among the Forest Preserves' top priorities, with public safety to remain a central consideration in planning, design, construction and operations.

The agency also plans to expand Spanish-language programming and printed materials and seek sustainable funding for volunteer opportunities in communities that have historically been underserved.

Education And Outreach

The Forest Preserves wants to find new ways to engage young adults and plans to increase communication about land acquisitions, habitat restoration and public-access improvements.

Officials also said they want to better explain why newly acquired properties sometimes remain undeveloped until funding and staff are available to restore the land, add amenities and maintain it.

Financial Sustainability

The Forest Preserves plans to work with its Board of Commissioners and Lake County's state legislative delegation to seek additional operating revenue, while pursuing state and federal funding for high-priority projects, according to forest preserve officials. .

The agency also is working toward a $20 million endowment campaign through its Preservation Foundation by Dec. 31, 2027. The endowment would provide a permanent source of funding for the long-term care of the county's forest preserves.

Future Headquarters And Dunn Museum

Another long-term goal calls for developing a strategy to relocate the Forest Preserves' headquarters and Dunn Museum to a destination location designed to achieve net-zero operations.

“This plan positions us to serve the public, support our employees and care for Lake County's natural resources for generations,” Forest Preserves President Jessica Vealitzek said. “We are protecting land not just for today, but forever.”

The Lake County Forest Preserves was established in 1958 and is now the second-largest forest preserve district in Illinois, according to the agency. Its properties encompass more than 31,900 acres of natural land throughout Lake County.