This page shows news articles related to specific greenways and communities.
All News Clips
| Back to List | |
| Land deal would expand forest preserve by 51 acres | |
| Aug 2, 2007 | |
| Brian Hudson bhudson@libertysuburban.com | |
| West Chicago Press | |
| Pertains to Danada , Wheaton | |
| A nearly completed land deal could make roughly 51 acres of what officials are calling "ready-made forest preserve" in Wheaton available to the public. DuPage County Forest Preserve District commissioners voted 5-2 July 24 to purchase the land from Alcatel Lucent for $22.4 million. The telecommunication company is now negotiating the final details of the deal, which will be reaching closure "sooner than later," forest preserve officials said. The purchase will be funded with money from November's $68 million bond referendum. The 51.44-acre parcel is south of the Danada Forest preserve on the east side of Naperville Road. Forest Preserve officials were enticed to purchase the property by the idea of adding to the Danada preserve, a 753-acre swath of largely undeveloped country. "The No. 1 reason for purchasing the property is to preserve open space," said Kevin Stough, director of the district's office of land preservation. "There's an opportunity to expand trails and expand the use of the property into the Danada Forest Preserve." The new parcel comprises wooded areas, 10 acres of restored prairie and a trailway system. Also on the property are recreational facilities such as baseball and soccer fields, which the Wheaton Park District has set it's sights on. Days before the Forest Commission approved the land deal, the Wheaton Park District adopted its own resolution throwing its support behind the acquisition. Park District and Forest Preserve officials now are negotiating an agreement that would open the fields to Wheaton sports teams. The Park District had a previous deal with Lucent to use the fields. "It's basically a win/win situation to allow the Park District to maintain the area," said Mike Benard, executive director of the Wheaton Park District. "Certainly in an environment where more and more kids are being diagnosed as simply obese, the environment should continue to offer competitive and recreational and certainly pick up opportunities for kids to run around." |
»»»»»
Greenway Trails
» » »Existing
» » »Project
» » »Potential
Greenway Maps
» » »by Agency
» » »by Scope
Community Systems
» » »Active
» » »Typical
» » »Sedentary
» » »Dead-end
Grade Separations
» » »Existing
» » »Needed
Trail Development
» » »News
» » »Events
Greenway Advocacy Materials
Bicycle Underpass/Overpass Gallery
About Greenway Planning Database
About Steve Breese
PalatineRoad.com
Contact Steve Breese
Greenway Links
ArlingtonTrotters.com
Fast Track Racing Team
COGO
Technical Corner