Who We Are

Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives.

One of the nation’s oldest and most successful metropolitan conservation organizations, Openlands has helped save, secure, and provide public access to more than 55,000 acres of land for prairies, wetlands, and greenway corridors, as well as parks, forest preserves, and urban gardens. Our work includes:

The Illinois Prairie Path (1964), the nation’s first rails-to-trails conversion;
The Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor (1984), the first federal land designation of its kind—today, over forty national heritage corridors exist;
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (1997), the country’s first protected tallgrass prairie;
Old Plank Road Trail (1997); and
Goose Lake Prairie.

In addition to conserving land and waterways, Openlands conducts thoughtful research, advocates for sound conservation policies, and helps individuals and communities care for their open spaces.

Through four interrelated programs—Community Greening, Greenways, Land Preservation, and Policy—Openlands adopts and implements long-term solutions that balance the inevitable growth of our region with the responsibility we share to protect our open spaces and natural resources for generations to come.