From the Conservancy's friends in the Chicago Region Land Conservation Coalition (CRLCC)...

Liberty Prarie Conservancy

Hello all Chicago Region Land Conservation Coalition folks,

Last night the 185 million dollar Lake County Forest Preserve District referendum passed by an incredible margin with 66% voting in favor of the measure. Considering the state of the economy, this is a very strong statement of the value and benefits of open space. As a result of the referendum's passage, the District will be able to purchase an additional 3,000 to 3,500 acres of land for habitat preservation and passive recreation in Lake County. Of the 185 million, 148 million (80%) will be used for land acquisition and 37 million (20%) will be used for restoration, trails and opening of new preserves to the public. For more information on the referendum and the Lake County Forest Preserve District, click here.

For the first time in its history the Liberty Prairie Conservancy played a key role in advocating for a referendum by joining with the Friends of the Lake County Forest Preserves co-chaired by Joyce O'Keefe, Deputy Director of OpenLands and Paul Ivers, CEO of Cambridge Homes.

LPC's Board heartily endorsed our significant involvement in this campaign which required adapting of work plan to make room for our work on the referendum. If was exciting, tiring and a whole lot of work. But our useful role in this referendum would not have been possible without the considerable knowledge we have gained over the years from Jerry Adelmann and Brook McDonald concerning advocacy roles for land trusts. I also gained immensely from Joyce O'Keefe's mentoring through this 12-week successful campaign.

My point is this; this is a victory made possible in large part by the private and non-profit conservation sector of our whole region.

So hats off to our coalition!

Steve

Steve Barg
Executive Director
Liberty Prairie Conservancy
32400 North Harris
Grayslake, IL. 60030
www.libertyprairie.org

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