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15 acres would help link Lake County trails
Nov 9, 2007
Mick Zawislak, Staff Writer
Daily Herald
Pertains to Des Plaines River Trail, Almond Marsh Trail, Libertyville
Two forest preserve committees Thursday approved a multi-layered deal that would expand Lake County's most popular forest preserve, link dozens of miles of trails and provide other benefits.

Members of both the land preservation and acquisition and the finance, administrative and education committees agreed to buy about 15 acres in Libertyville Township west of Milwaukee Avenue and south of Casey Road for $1.3 million.

The acquisition of a portion of the Casey Farm from the Liberty Prairie Conservancy, a private, nonprofit land preservation group, would expand the Independence Grove Forest Preserve to the west.

It also would fill a gap and, with a tunnel beneath Milwaukee, would provide a connection between the 31-mile Des Plaines River Trail and an existing 17-mile network of trails north and west to Round Lake.

"This is almost akin to the Des Plaines trail linkage that we've been missing," said Tom Hahn, executive director of the forest preserve district.

Eventually, hikers and bikers could traverse 39 miles through several forest preserves in the interior of the county from Libertyville, Hahn said.

"Part of our overall plan is to link neighborhoods into the regional trail system," Hahn said. The timing depends on when the Illinois Department of Transportation widens Milwaukee Avenue, he added, as an underpass will be part of that project.

The committees also approved an agreement with Libertyville Township that provides a conservation easement for 136 acres as an addition to the Almond Marsh Forest Preserve. The easement assures natural resources won't be disturbed, Hahn said.

"It won't allow ball fields or other active recreation. There's a lot of good opportunities for restoration on the site which ultimately will protect Almond Marsh."

Finally, the committee agreed to accept a 2.8-mile trail easement from the township. The township's Oak Openings trail stretches west from the Casey Farm property. The easement ensures it will remain a trail corridor.

While the forest preserve district has had its eye on the link for years, the outcome was a result of negotiations by the Liberty Prairie Conservancy, which Tuesday announced a contract to buy the 34-acre Casey farm.

Casey family members have lived there since 1865. The conservancy plans to someday renovate the farm house and grow organic crops in the field.

Besides the subsequent sale to the forest preserve district, 5 acres will be sold to the township open space district for $91,800.

"It's a great transaction. It does a lot of different things," Hahn said.

The full forest preserve board will consider the matter on Tuesday.

   
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