Partners work together to preserve high-quality oak savanna in Pembroke Township and Hopkins Park, Illinois 

(HOPKINS PARK, IL) – The Community Development Corporation of Pembroke-Hopkins Park (CDC-PHP) has purchased 29.85 acres of high-quality black oak savanna with financial support from the Illinois Audubon Society, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, and Openlands.  Pembroke Preservation Alliance is an important capacity-building partner locally. The acquisition will be known as Okàn Savanna. Pronounced “oaken,” meaning heart and soul in Yoruba, a West African language. Pembroke Township is located approximately 70 miles south of Chicago, along the Indiana border.  

The property is the core of a proposed 60-acre Okàn Savanna Land and Water Reserve. It qualifies for inclusion in the Illinois Nature Preserves system because the high-quality savanna provides a home for the state-endangered highbush blueberry, state-threatened ornate box turtle, and regal fritillary butterfly.  Private and Public lands that voluntarily qualify as an Illinois Nature Preserve receive the highest form of permanent protection under state law for habitat and wildlife.  

“A beautiful time has come!” remarked Johari Cole-Kweli, clearly not containing her enthusiasm. “We closed on October 1st.” Her team’s long effort to protect a vital parcel of the rarest black oak savanna in the Kankakee Sands region has come to fruition. Cole-Kweli is the President and Managing Director of the CDC-PHP.  

Other notable wildlife species documented at Okàn Savanna include slender glass lizard, red-headed woodpecker, whip-poor-will, plains pocket gopher, and two dozen more Species in Greatest Conservation Need, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ State Wildlife Action Plan. Pembroke Township has also been designated as an Important Bird Area. 

Kim Roman, Natural Areas Preservation Specialist for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, is equally excited about the acquisition of Okàn Savanna, “This project is the culmination of the growing partnerships within Pembroke-Hopkins Park and will be a huge asset to the community.” 

The site also includes a 6000-square-foot building (a former daycare facility) that will become a vital hub for the community, a meeting place with office space, a center for environmental education, after-school programs, and a nature center and trailhead for the public. It is adjacent to another 15 acres owned by CDC-PHP and 20 acres owned by The Nature Conservancy. The local school, library, senior center, and community park are all within walking distance. 

Okàn Savanna sits within the heart and soul of this rural township. 

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About the Community Development Corporation of Pembroke-Hopkins Park 

Community Development Corporation of PHP was forged from grassroots activism, driven by the voices and determination of concerned residents to reclaim and direct our land conservation and community development to make Pembroke Township a better place for all. In 2015, we formed a voluntary task force, and in 2018, we continued our civic commitment as a charitable Community Development Corporation (CDC). By inspiring local leadership, we aspire to rebuild and restore our community to greatness with innovative and sustainable programs and development opportunities to improve the condition of our underserved, protect our sacred environment, and bring pride to the next generations. Our mission is to advocate for community-based leadership, sustainability, and enrichment within Pembroke-Hopkins Park [PHP] and preserve and protect its cultural, historical, and environmental legacy. 

About Illinois Audubon 

The mission of the Illinois Audubon Society is to promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native flora and fauna and the habitats that support them. The Society is an independent, statewide, member supported, nonprofit organization. Founded in 1897, the Society is Illinois’ oldest private conservation organization with 2,200 members, 17 chapters and 19 affiliate groups. The Illinois Audubon Society has protected 7,200 acres by investing $18 million to protect land and water throughout Illinois. Find out more at illinoisaudubon.org 

About Openlands 

Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. As Chicago’s regional land trust, Openlands connects and energizes the region through strategic collaboration and local partnerships. We work closely with government agencies and policymakers to develop new environmental conservation plans and practices created with all individuals in mind. From establishing city parks and trails to stewarding large-scale landscapes and waters in Northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region, Openlands is committed to advancing nature-based solutions to mitigate the threats of biodiversity loss and climate change and create access to nature for all. For more information, please visit openlands.org. 

About Illinois Nature Preserves Commission 

The mission of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission is to assist private and public landowners in protecting high quality natural areas, habitats of endangered and threatened species, and lands with significant archeological resources, in perpetuity, through voluntary dedication or registration of such lands into the Illinois Nature Preserves System. The Commission, established in 1963, promotes the preservation of these significant lands and provides leadership in their stewardship, management, and protection. Illinois was the first state to create such an innovative land protection program and became a national model for many other states. There are currently 419 dedicated nature preserves and 210 registered land and water reserves – 629 sites altogether – in Illinois’ System, comprised of 123,000 acres. 

About Pembroke Preservation Alliance 

The Pembroke Preservation Alliance is a partnership of public and private organizations wishing to sustain Pembroke’s cultural, historical, and ecological landscape by adopting a holistic approach to conservation within the human communities of Pembroke. Alliance members, including the CDC-PHP, Friends of the Kankakee, Field Museum, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, commit to ongoing communication, transparency, community engagement, and collaboration to bring resources to Pembroke Township and to foster thriving relationships between people, community, and nature.