"Creating Tomorrow's Green Region" Now Available Online

Creating Tomorrow's Green Region celebrates the 21 Green Legacy Projects of the Burnham Plan Centennial, detailing progress made on each throughout the year and highlighting the steps needed to preserve, protect, and expand the region's green infrastructure. Click on this link to download the booklet.

Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge Plans Advance

The movement to create the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is gaining ground both in local communities and at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Openlands, the Trust for Public Land, and area residents have requested that the USFWS conduct a feasibility study for recognizing the bi-state area of northern McHenry County, in Illinois, and southern Walworth County, in Wisconsin, as a potential urban refuge.

Read more: Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge Plans Advance

Get "A Pocketful of Watercolors"

A Pocketful of Watercolors captures the artistic explorations of air, land, and water by Philip Enquist, a former Openlands board member and a great friend of our organization. Proceeds from the sale of this beautiful book will benefit Openlands' conservation work throughout northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.

Read more: Get "A Pocketful of Watercolors"

2010 StreamLeaders Classes Begin March 27

If you’re concerned about the quality of water and diversity of animals in our region’s rivers and streams, sign up for StreamLeaders, a hands-on training course designed to enhance citizen participation in stream conservation. This year's StreamLeaders classes will take place at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Hadley Valley substation, in New Lenox, IL (Click this link to view a complete listing of course dates).

Read more: 2010 StreamLeaders Classes Begin March 27

Major Improvements Coming to Popular Palatine Preserve

Read more: Major Improvements Coming to Popular Palatine Preserve

Openlands Lakeshore Preserve

Located just twenty-five miles north of Chicago, the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve presents a rare opportunity to visit one of the last remaining ravine and bluff ecosystems in the metropolitan region. Click here for directions to the top of Bartlett Ravine, the main entry to the preserve.

Read more: Openlands Lakeshore Preserve

Burnham Plan Centennial

In 1909, Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett collaborated with the Commercial Club of Chicago to create the historic Plan of Chicago, a bold new vision for the region. One hundred years later, Openlands has joined forces with the Burnham Plan Centennial Committee to advance Green Legacy Projects throughout the region that build on Burnham’s innovative thinking and foresight. See what Openlands Executive Director Jerry Adelmann has to say about Burnham's green legacy here, and watch the Green Legacy video (below).

Read more: Burnham Plan Centennial

New Name, Same Great Programs and Services

Read more: New Name, Same Great Programs and Services

Chicago's Ronan Park: The Upside of a Down Economy

Read more: Chicago's Ronan Park: The Upside of a Down Economy