Lake County has an opportunity to add a crown jewel to its legendary array of natural areas after the Illinois General Assembly Tuesday established a task force to study new uses for land originally targeted for the now-defunct Route 53 Extension, advocates said.
More than 1,000 acres of parcels comprising one of the county’s most postcard-ready landscapes – a sanctuary for rare plants and animals, scenic meadows and tranquil creeks and wetlands – remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Transportation after the demise of the former extension.
Under a resolution passed by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, a task force representing local municipalities, elected officials, citizens groups, environmental organizations, and others will evaluate proposals to plan a new vision for a span of open space stretching for miles through the heart of Lake County. The move was cheered by local organizations advocating for its preservation as a public greenway that would link central Lake County communities, including Long Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Mundelein, and Grayslake, with a nature trail and other opportunities to enjoy the landscape.
Non-profit groups supporting the concept for a “greenway” include Friends of Indian Creek Wetlands, Lake County Audubon Society, Midwest Sustainability Group, Openlands, the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, and the Woods and Wetlands Group of the Sierra Club.
“The beauty and environmental quality of these lands enhance our communities,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. “We applaud Representative Didech and Senator Bush for this effort to explore how a greenway could benefit residents now and for the future.”
The legislation had also earned backing from other key local officials, advocates noted.
"In addition to the huge thanks we owe to Senator Bush and Representative Didech for sponsoring and supporting this effort, we owe a debt of gratitude to Senator McConchie, Senator Connor and to Representative Bos for co-sponsoring and supporting the resolution,” said Barbara Klipp, Executive Director of Midwest Sustainability Group. “We are delighted to have bi-partisan support for this important issue. Lake County Board support for this resolution was instrumental as well. Many thanks to John Wasik, Jessica Vealitzek and all of the members of the board who unanimously voted to support the resolution. As always, it takes a village."
The value of the proposed greenway isn’t exclusively aesthetic. Wetlands that inhabit the former road corridor also serve as critical buffers reducing the growing risk of floods wrought by recurring bouts of extreme weather. The economic toll that flooding exacts on Lake County’s small businesses has been the subject of congressional hearings.
“Preserving this land as a greenway has benefits beyond just the cosmetics,” said Rita O’Connor, a Long Grove Village Trustee and Managing Broker of RE/MAX Suburban, Lake Zurich Realtor. “It’s also a strategy to protect local property values. The greenway reduces the threat of water damage from major storms and air pollution from increased traffic, guaranteeing a return on investment for costs the public incurred to buy the land in the first place.”
The core path of the greenway has already been assembled as a result of the incremental land purchases IDOT accrued over the decades, a part of the abandoned proposal to extend Route 53. The Illinois Tollway, which had assumed principal responsibility for studying the proposal, found the project lacked sufficient public support and retired plans for the concept in 2019.
The aesthetic value of those land investments, and the hidden but substantial benefits people obtain from these ecosystems have only escalated over time, as open space became an inevitably scarcer amid rapid development trends in Lake County. Today, the former road corridor has emerged as arguably the last, best opportunity for local communities to preserve the natural treasures that have made the area a popular destination. Beyond that, the length and linear configuration of the proposed greenway represent an opportunity for a protected open space with precedents in the Chicago region.
“This is part of a growing movement across the country where the public has discovered the potential of newly restored open spaces from former transportation corridors,” said Jerry Adelmann, Openlands President & CEO. “These become beloved spaces where diverse residents, young and old, flock to get fresh air, walk, bike, and share a moment with each other. This is our moment to create that kind of legacy for our communities.”