The green corridor is one of the most enchanting natural landscapes remaining in Lake County: fields flourishing with wildflowers, groves cloistered under the canopies of interlacing treetops, ponds and creeks lacquered in gold at sunset.

Once designated for the now-defunct Route 53 Extension into Lake County, the 12-mile corridor is a prime example of the scenic riches unique to our county's identity. Now it's the proposed location of a new state park.

As a state park, the Greenway would include a continuous nature trail for walking, running, and biking; recreational amenities for kids and families; and a dedicated sanctuary for rare and critical natural habitat.

All of the land is easily accessible to local residents. Much of the land is already owned by the state, purchased with taxpayer funds. That's why adjacent communities—including Grayslake, Mundelein, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Deer Park, Lake Zurich, and Long Grove—have urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to embrace a plan to preserve this Greenway and protect it from development.

It's time to ask Gov. Pritzker to transfer the land to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) so it can be protected as a state park. Please add your name to the Green Corridor Coalition's Greenway petition. 

Sierra Club is a member of the Green Corridor Coalition.

Photo: Fall At The Lakeside-Kruzl