Protecting Our Land and Water

Just about everything we do at Openlands aims to protect land and water resources in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region. Click on the links below to find out what we're doing in your community.

• Our Land Preservation program offers a wide range of conservation services, including land acquisition and planning, conservation easements, and wetland restoration, which have helped local governments and private landowners alike save more than 15,000 acres of open space, valued at over $500 million.
• Greenways projects safeguard and expand land and water trails for biking, hiking, paddling, and other recreational and educational opportunities throughout the Chicagoland area, as well as parts of northwestern Indiana and southeastern Wisconsin.
• Policy initiatives address issues such as farmland protection, water supply and quality, and local and state land acquisition.
• Community Greening creates lush oases in diverse urban communities through urban forestry, neighborhood open space planning, and other innovative projects.
• And even special projects, such as the Burnham Plan Centennial and the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, help protect open space and natural areas for generations to come.