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| Prospect Heights Land Purchase: A Case Study in Politics and Patience | |
| Oct 1, 2003 | |
| The Trust for Public Land: Chicago Newsletter | |
| Pertains to McDonald Creek, Prospect Heights | |
| Nearly forty years ago, Dr. Keith Wurtz purchased a large piece of land along McDonald Creek in Prospect Heights, a flourishing community just 20 miles from downtown Chicago. An avid amateur tree farmer, Dr. Wurtz planted thousands of seedlings of black walnut, white oak, and various other species on eight acres of the property. As the grove grew over the next few decades, so did the small town of Prospect Heights, and today the woodland is surrounded on all sides by residential development. When Dr. Wurtz considered selling his property after the death of his wife in 2002, it was important to him that the land and its many trees be preserved. With a shortage of open space in Prospect Heights for residents to enjoy, community leaders also realized the benefit of saving this wooded haven for recreational and educational use. The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission had already designated McDonald Creek, which runs through the property, as a greenway in its Northern Illinois Regional Greenways and Trail Plan. The plan calls for the preservation and protection of greenways not only for recreational purposes, but also for protection of threatened stream corridors due to increased urbanization. The small suburb of Prospect Heights did not have the financial resources to purchase the land, so they contacted TPL for help. Late last year, TPL negotiated an option to purchase the land, and then sought funding to arrange a transfer of the land to the Prospect Heights Park District. TPL acquired the property in July of 2003, when the likelihood of securing funding seemed promising. In a true bi-partisan effort, State Senator Wendell Jones (R-Palatine), State Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook), and the Prospect Heights Park District were able to secure $500,000 in funding through an Illinois Open Land Trust grant.* "This land will provide new opportunities not only for the people of Prospect Heights, but for all of its surrounding communities," said State Rep. Elaine Nekritz. "The educational and recreational opportunities here are endless. I am thrilled to be a part of such a great cause." The Prospect Heights Park District supplied the remainder of the funding necessary to close the deal on Dr. Wurtz's land and will maintain the land for the benefit of the community, preserving the area for educational opportunities, passive recreation, and special events. The Chicago Office of the Trust for Public Land strives to identify and preserve land in communities like Prospect Heights for parks and natural areas. *The Illinois Open Land Trust Program was established in 1999 by then Governor George Ryan to address the state's deficiency of public open space. Illinois was ranked last in a 2000 Wisconsin survey of midwestern states regarding the availability of publicly accessible, state-owned acres per thousand state residents. Unfortunately, since the Prospect Heights grant was awarded, funding for the Open Land Trust Program has been reduced dramatically and is in danger of being eliminated altogether. |
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