ComEd and Openlands team up to support
conservation and preservation projects
ComEd and Openlands will award more than $200,000 in grants to
22 Illinois municipalities - each receiving up to $10,000 for open
space projects that focus on conservation, preservation and
improvements to local parks and recreation resources.
This marks the fourth year that ComEd and Openlands, one of the
oldest metropolitan conservation organizations in the nation,
partner to award ComEd’s Green Region grants.
“Our Green Region 2016 grantees are all doing their part to
ensure that their open spaces are protected and preserved,” said
Fidel Marquez, senior vice president of Governmental and External
Affairs, ComEd. “Each community is working on a unique project –
from restoring wetlands to redeveloping local parks to constructing
brand new wildlife areas – and we are excited to help them advance
their green initiatives.”
The Green Region partnership is one of the many ways ComEd and
Openlands give back to their communities and support their efforts
to improve their green footprints.
“At a time when protecting our environment is becoming
increasingly more essential to ensure a sustainable future, it is
important that we continue to find ways to support the people who
are working hard to protect it,” said Marquez. “We are proud to
partner with Openlands to support projects that provide a better
environment for our customers and our communities.”
Openlands, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on land
conservation, is administering the Green Region program.
Municipalities throughout northern Illinois submitted their
applications for a Green Region grant earlier this year. An
advisory committee composed of county government officials, members
of the region’s non-profit land conservation community, and ComEd
representatives review the Grant applications.
“Our ultimate goal is to create a healthy, vibrant environment
for people where they can live and work. With ComEd’s partnership,
we are able to help communities in northern Illinois make that
environmental goal a reality,” said Openlands President and CEO
Jerry Adelmann.
Additional information on the Green Region program can be found
at www.openlands.org/greenregion.
The 22 Green Region grant recipients for 2016 are:
Bensenville Park DistrictThe Bensenville Park District
project will focus on both the restoration and management of
naturalized and native park sites, helping to ensure their health
for current and future generations.
Big Rock Park DistrictThe Big Rock Park District project
will create the first public vegetated bio area with native flowers
within the District’s jurisdiction. The planned area will promote
bird and wildlife habitat while offering opportunities for study of
native flora and healthy ecosystems.
Buffalo Grove Park DistrictThe Buffalo Grove Park
District project will extend and accelerate the restoration of Mike
Rylko Community Park’s streambanks, woodlands and wetlands along
the Willow Stream corridor.
City of AuroraThe Green Region grant will help the City
of Aurora replant and restore their rain gardens and a bioswale
area at Phillips Park.
City of HometownThis redevelopment project will provide
new equipment for Anderson Park and will help to increase
accessibility and open spaces in the park.
City of StreatorThis grant will help the City of Streator
construct a trail atop a former railroad right-of-way recently
acquired by the city, create displays telling the story of the
site’s history, and update the city’s 2002 Greenway Master Plan to
reflect changed local conditions.
Dixon Park DistrictThe Middle Rock River Conservation
Partnership brings together 25-plus natural land managers in three
state-designated Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs). This
project focuses on prescribed fire, and radio equipment required to
safely complete burns on natural areas.
Grayslake Community Park DistrictGrayslake Community Park
District, in collaboration with Meadowview Sprouts, will work on
restoration of a wooded area, adding a nature trail and
interpretive signage, and the replacing a wetland boardwalk.
Libertyville Township Open Space DistrictThis grant will
help restore 113 acres of degraded farmland into a native habitat
that will connect to three Illinois Nature preserves, creating one
contiguous block of habitat.
Niles Park DistrictThe Niles Community Garden will
transform an unused plot of land into a productive and educational
garden. The garden will offer twenty-six organic plots, two of
which will supply fresh produce for public donation.
Park District of Highland ParkThis project will develop
an open space plan to increase public access to the Skokie River
Woods natural area and improve regional connectivity while
protecting the environmental integrity of the wetland
ecosystem.
Prospect Heights Park DistrictThis grant will help to
create an interpretive nature park, providing ecological benefits
while nurturing children’s connection to nature. Native buffers
will replace turf grass around the Slough wetland, improving health
and habitat while continuing to build a volunteer network.
Village of Carol StreamThis project will convert
approximately one acre of grass in a decommissioned sewage facility
will be converted to native and pollinator plantings.
Village of Clarendon HillsThe Richmond Education Gardens
and Apiary will promote access to community ownership of process
and product, localization, healthy eating, and organic and
environmentally sound gardening practices to encourage investments
based on environmental sustainability practices.
Village of Island LakeThis grant will support
improvements to the newly acquired Hyde’s Lakeview Park. The goal
of the park is to provide the community a scenic setting with
benches, limestone walkways, and resting areas overlooking Island
Lake.
Village of Lake ZurichThis project will begin the habitat
restoration of a degraded oak woodland, which will include the
removal of invasive species and reintroduction of native ones.
Village of ShabbonaThis grant will help the village
acquire land and create a multi-use pathway connecting a number of
community areas to the village itself.
Village of South HollandThis project will establish a
wildlife area and observation deck. This will allow the public to
view migratory wildlife, raising ecology awareness, and enhance the
local ecology system.
Village of WarrenThis project will install new safety
railings in areas frequented by students, replace trees in the
village park, and upgrade the green space in the center of the
downtown.
Wheaton Park DistrictThis grant will help provide a
nature play area within the 151-acre Lincoln Marsh Natural Area to
encourage children and their families to play and learn in a safe
natural environment.
Will CountyThis project will establish a community
garden/urban farm initiative. It includes an educational garden,
small indoor hydroponic growing area, and compost bins.
Wilmette Park DistrictThis grant will help establish a
migratory bird habitat at Gilson Park. This habitat will increase
both recreation and education opportunities for the community, as
well as provide a critical habitat for migrating birds.
About Openlands
Founded in 1963, Openlands is one of the nation’s oldest and
most successful metropolitan conservation organizations, having
helped secure, protect, and provide public access to more than
55,000 acres of land for parks, forest preserves, wildlife refuges,
land and water greenway corridors, and urban gardens. For more
information, visit www.openlands.org.
About ComEd
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive
energy provider, with approximately 7.8 million customers. ComEd
provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across
northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For
more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160707005936/en/
Brandon Hayes(312) 863-6260bhayes@openlands.orgorJordan
Aluise(202) 549-7196jaluise@kivvit.com
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