ComEd and Openlands will award more than $200,000 in grants to 22 Illinois municipalities - each receiving up to $10,000 for open space projects that focus on conservation, preservation and improvements to local parks and recreation resources.
This marks the fourth year that ComEd and Openlands, one of the oldest metropolitan conservation organizations in the nation, partner to award ComEd's Green Region grants.
"Our Green Region 2016 grantees are all doing their part to ensure that their open spaces are protected and preserved," said Fidel Marquez, senior vice president of Governmental and External Affairs, ComEd. "Each community is working on a unique project – from restoring wetlands to redeveloping local parks to constructing brand new wildlife areas – and we are excited to help them advance their green initiatives."
The Green Region partnership is one of the many ways ComEd and Openlands give back to their communities and support their efforts to improve their green footprints.
"At a time when protecting our environment is becoming increasingly more essential to ensure a sustainable future, it is important that we continue to find ways to support the people who are working hard to protect it," said Marquez. "We are proud to partner with Openlands to support projects that provide a better environment for our customers and our communities."
Openlands, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on land conservation, is administering the Green Region program. Municipalities throughout northern Illinois submitted their applications for a Green Region grant earlier this year. An advisory committee composed of county government officials, members of the region's non-profit land conservation community, and ComEd representatives review the Grant applications.
"Our ultimate goal is to create a healthy, vibrant environment for people where they can live and work. With ComEd's partnership, we are able to help communities in northern Illinois make that environmental goal a reality," said Openlands President and CEO Jerry Adelmann.
Additional information on the Green Region program can be found at www.openlands.org/greenregion.
The 22 Green Region grant recipients for 2016 are:
Bensenville Park District
The Bensenville Park District
project will focus on both the restoration and management of naturalized
and native park sites, helping to ensure their health for current and
future generations.
Big Rock Park District
The Big Rock Park District project
will create the first public vegetated bio area with native flowers
within the District's jurisdiction. The planned area will promote bird
and wildlife habitat while offering opportunities for study of native
flora and healthy ecosystems.
Buffalo Grove Park District
The Buffalo Grove Park District
project will extend and accelerate the restoration of Mike Rylko
Community Park's streambanks, woodlands and wetlands along the Willow
Stream corridor.
City of Aurora
The Green Region grant will help the City of
Aurora replant and restore their rain gardens and a bioswale area at
Phillips Park.
City of Hometown
This redevelopment project will provide new
equipment for Anderson Park and will help to increase accessibility and
open spaces in the park.
City of Streator
This grant will help the City of Streator
construct a trail atop a former railroad right-of-way recently acquired
by the city, create displays telling the story of the site's history,
and update the city's 2002 Greenway Master Plan to reflect changed local
conditions.
Dixon Park District
The Middle Rock River Conservation
Partnership brings together 25-plus natural land managers in three
state-designated Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs). This project
focuses on prescribed fire, and radio equipment required to safely
complete burns on natural areas.
Grayslake Community Park District
Grayslake Community Park
District, in collaboration with Meadowview Sprouts, will work on
restoration of a wooded area, adding a nature trail and interpretive
signage, and the replacing a wetland boardwalk.
Libertyville Township Open Space District
This grant will
help restore 113 acres of degraded farmland into a native habitat that
will connect to three Illinois Nature preserves, creating one contiguous
block of habitat.
Niles Park District
The Niles Community Garden will
transform an unused plot of land into a productive and educational
garden. The garden will offer twenty-six organic plots, two of which
will supply fresh produce for public donation.
Park District of Highland Park
This project will develop an
open space plan to increase public access to the Skokie River Woods
natural area and improve regional connectivity while protecting the
environmental integrity of the wetland ecosystem.
Prospect Heights Park District
This grant will help to
create an interpretive nature park, providing ecological benefits while
nurturing children's connection to nature. Native buffers will replace
turf grass around the Slough wetland, improving health and habitat while
continuing to build a volunteer network.
Village of Carol Stream
This project will convert
approximately one acre of grass in a decommissioned sewage facility will
be converted to native and pollinator plantings.
Village of Clarendon Hills
The Richmond Education Gardens
and Apiary will promote access to community ownership of process and
product, localization, healthy eating, and organic and environmentally
sound gardening practices to encourage investments based on
environmental sustainability practices.
Village of Island Lake
This grant will support improvements
to the newly acquired Hyde's Lakeview Park. The goal of the park is to
provide the community a scenic setting with benches, limestone walkways,
and resting areas overlooking Island Lake.
Village of Lake Zurich
This project will begin the habitat
restoration of a degraded oak woodland, which will include the removal
of invasive species and reintroduction of native ones.
Village of Shabbona
This grant will help the village acquire
land and create a multi-use pathway connecting a number of community
areas to the village itself.
Village of South Holland
This project will establish a
wildlife area and observation deck. This will allow the public to view
migratory wildlife, raising ecology awareness, and enhance the local
ecology system.
Village of Warren
This project will install new safety
railings in areas frequented by students, replace trees in the village
park, and upgrade the green space in the center of the downtown.
Wheaton Park District
This grant will help provide a nature
play area within the 151-acre Lincoln Marsh Natural Area to encourage
children and their families to play and learn in a safe natural
environment.
Will County
This project will establish a community
garden/urban farm initiative. It includes an educational garden, small
indoor hydroponic growing area, and compost bins.
Wilmette Park District
This grant will help establish a
migratory bird habitat at Gilson Park. This habitat will increase both
recreation and education opportunities for the community, as well as
provide a critical habitat for migrating birds.
About Openlands
Founded in 1963, Openlands is one of the nation's oldest and most successful metropolitan conservation organizations, having helped secure, protect, and provide public access to more than 55,000 acres of land for parks, forest preserves, wildlife refuges, land and water greenway corridors, and urban gardens. For more information, visit www.openlands.org.
About ComEd
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation EXC, the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 7.8 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160707005936/en/
Brandon Hayes
(312) 863-6260
bhayes@openlands.org
or
Jordan
Aluise
(202) 549-7196
jaluise@kivvit.com
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