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Openlands

Conserving Nature for Life

  • Climate Change

    Openlands focuses on solutions to the climate crisis that use nature to mitigate or even turn back the clock on the changes and impacts expected for our region.

  • Connecting people to nature where they live

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

  • Take Action

    Use your voice to support of the open spaces and natural resources of the Chicago metropolitan region.

Attend a Virtual Tree Walk on December 5!

The Openlands Lakeshore Preserve is Back Open

After three weeks of closure due to a shoreline protection project, the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Beach is back open to the public.

Plan Your Visit

Support the Passage of the RENEW Conservation Corps

Find out more about the Conservation Corps, a federal initiative presented by Senator Dick Durbin that will make robust funding for conservation jobs available through future Coronavirus relief legislation.

Learn More

Remove Invasive Plants with the Mettawa Cost Share

The health of Mettawa’s woodlands is so important that the U.S. Forest Service is now offering financial support to residents who want to hire qualified contractors for removal of buckthorn, honeysuckle and other invasive shrub and tree species.

Sign Up

Openlands Get Outside Map

Discover places and ways to enjoy nature in the region with the Get Outside Map! Use the interactive map and list to search 350 parks, preserves, and natural areas open to the public. Each site includes a list of benefits and activities, a link for directions through Google Maps, and links to event calendars and other information.

Explore

Recent News

The Vacant Lot Phenomenon: How Vacant Lots Affect A Community’s People, Places, and Ecosystems

by Openlands

Vacant lots in Chicago tend to have a negative association with neighborhood blight and devaluation. However, as a child, Openlands’ Education and Community Outreach Coordinator Lillian Holden experienced a nearby lot as her gateway to imagination and the outdoors. Lillian explains the racist history that led to the overabundance of lots in Chicago and how discriminatory practices affect youths’ relationship to nature.

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