Ders Anderson, Greenways Director

Greenways Director Ders Anderson joined Openlands in 1994. Responsible for facilitating and implementing projects related to the 4,300-mile greenways and 2,000-mile trails system adopted for northeastern Illinois, Ders helped develop several regional plans, including:

• Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways and Trail Plan,
• Salt Creek Greenway Plan,
• Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails Plan,
• Chicago Wilderness’ Biodiversity Plan, and
• Northwest Indiana Regional Greenways and Blueways Plan.

Ders spearheads numerous habitat restoration projects and is the principal author of the Prairie Parklands Trails Plan, the Lake Calumet Vision, the Prairie Streams Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration Strategy, and the South Suburban Calumet Open Space and Trail Plan.

He is also the northeastern Illinois representative of the Grand Illinois Trail Executive Council, a board member of the Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership, the American Hiking Society, and the Land Conservancy of McHenry County. Prior to his work at Openlands, Ders was a municipal planner for 20 years.

• B.A., Architecture, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN