Openlands

Openlands is proud to announce the creation of The Negaunee Opportunity Fund with a $3 million gift from The Negaunee Foundation. The Fund will support Openlands’ land acquisition transactions across the region, including ongoing acquisitions at Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Openlands Board Chair, JoAnn Seagren shared, "With diminishing private funds available specifically for land acquisition, The Negaunee Foundation has established itself as a philanthropic leader and champion for nature." Full release: https://lnkd.in/gRDgSEsP

Openlands and Access Living Living have been awarded the Partnerships for Disability Access, Inclusion, and Leadership Grant 2024 from the Land Trust Alliance! By collaborating with Access Living, our project aims to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities on Openlands' Get Outside Map. If you are a person with disabilities who is interested in learning more about this project, you can participate in our focus group to help make Openlands' initiatives more accessible and inclusive. Fill out the form at the bottom of our blog, and we'll keep you posted. Learn more: https://ow.ly/svXA50SNJlP

Openlands and its partners, The Wetlands Initiative and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, are soliciting restoration services bids for 1,326 acres in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Forest Service site. Work is to begin as conditions allow after October 1, 2024 to be completed by December 31, 2027. - Pre-Bid Information Meeting: August 2, 2024 - Bids due: August 16, 2024 - Contractor selection: August 30, 2024 Please see more info and how to bid on our website here: https://lnkd.in/gK5VqkcM

As the fiscal sponsor of McKinley Park Development Council, Openlands is excited to share their new South Branch Connectivity Project: Framework Plan. This plan represents a shared community vision for the South Branch of the Chicago River, crafted over a year of planning and community engagement. It details a comprehensive vision for the riverfront with the ultimate goal of creating a continuous trail along the South Branch from the Richard J. Daley Boat Launch on Western Avenue to Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown. While the Chicago River can sometimes seem like a dividing line between neighborhoods, this plan outlines ways in which the river and the path along it will connect neighbors to green space, active transportation opportunities, public transit, everyday needs, and – most importantly – each other. You can learn more and get involved by filling out this Community Letter of Support: https://ow.ly/TtEr50SMAvT The Chicago Community Trust Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) Bridgeport Alliance

On this World Conservation Day, we celebrate not only the beauty of our natural world but also the incredible community of supporters who make our work possible. Your generosity fuels our mission and helps us build a sustainable future. Thank you to all our partners, volunteers, donors, and staff! #WorldConservationDay

July is National Bison Month. To celebrate, Congressman Jonathan Jackson visited Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie last week with Openlands' VP of Conservation & Policy Emily Reusswig, Director of Policy Chris Kessler, and Prairie Supervisor Christina Henderson on a tour of the grounds that the America the Beautiful Grant will impact starting this fall. Thank you, Congressman, for supporting conservation and restoration efforts in the 1st District of Illinois. Learn more about the America the Beautiful Grant and its future impact on Midewin: https://ow.ly/zstn50SLgbj #NationalBisonMonth USDA Forest Service

McCormick Place Lakeside Center is installing bird-friendly window film to give birds a visual cue of obstacles in their path. This is a win for Chicago's birding community, which has been working to mitigate bird collisions in the City. Thank you to everyone who has advocated for this change and let's keep pushing for bird-friendly designs. Learn more via WTTW/Chicago PBS: https://ow.ly/C5LC50SJFBS 📷 by Patty Wetli

Nature is for everyone. Openlands is committed to connecting all people to nature, regardless of ability. With a Leadership and Inclusion grant from the Land Trust Alliance, we're collaborating with Access Living on a project to remove the barriers that prevent the inclusion of people with disabilities in outdoor recreation. Take a look. https://lnkd.in/gQVVh4U5

This state legislative session Openlands had the opportunity to work with state Sen. Karina Villa and state Rep. Laura Faver Dias to craft and pass the Homeowners' Native Landscaping Act. This new law makes it easier for residents living in a homeowners' association to support native ecosystems by adopting conservation-friendly practices at home, so long as their plantings are intentional and maintained. Excited to see Gov. JB Pritzker sign this legislation into law and thankful for the leadership of state Rep. Faver Dias and state Sen. Villa who made this possible. 🦋 🐛 🐝

Exciting news for wildlife and visitors! Forest commissioners of the Lake County Forest Preserve District approved Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve's new addition of 18 acres. This acquisition will be adjoining the 71.5 acres gifted from Openlands to Lake County Forest Preserves last year. Learn more via Daily Herald Media Group: https://ow.ly/Kser50SJEbO