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Openlands History
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60 Years and Counting
Since our founding in 1963 as a program of the Welfare Council of Metropolitan Chicago, Openlands has been at the forefront of the urban conservation movement. As one of the first organizations in the United States to address environmental issues within a metropolitan region, we understand that people are essential to nature.
60 years later, Openlands remains committed to urban conservation in Northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.
A Lasting Impact
Discover a curated selection of Openlands’ milestones spanning six decades, each leveraging various building blocks of conservation.
Key
Partnering for greater impact
Planning and policymaking for systemic change
Protecting important landscapes
Delivering technical expertise in ecology and restoration
Igniting advocacy momentum
1963
Founding
Openlands Project (originally Open Lands Project) is created as a program of the Welfare Council of Metropolitan Chicago, becoming independent in 1968.
1964
Illinois Prairie Path
Illinois Prairie Path, in DuPage County, is approved as the first rails-to-trails project in the nation.
1965
Beall Woods
Beall Woods, an old-growth forest up for sale in southern Illinois, is purchased by the state and becomes a 329-acre nature preserve thanks to Openlands advocacy.
1966
Indiana Dunes
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was authorized by Congress after a decades-long environmental effort from regional partners and Openlands' early organizers.
1968
Peacock Prairie
Peacock Prairie (now James Woodworth Prairie), a rare example of virgin black soil tall-grass prairie, is preserved and eventually deeded to the University of Illinois Chicago.
1969
Goose Lake Prairie
Goose Lake Prairie State Park, the largest remnant tallgrass prairie east of the Mississippi, is established as a State Park and an Illinois Nature Preserve, after lobbying from Openlands.
1970
Volo Bog
Volo Bog is dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve, the only remaining open-water quaking bog in Illinois.
1970
Lake Michigan Federation
1972
Ryerson Woods
Ryerson Woods Conservation Area Nature Preserve was established as a Lake County Forest Preserve and dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve.
1972
McHenry County Conservation District
Openlands organizes support for a successful referendum to establish the McHenry County Conservation District.
1973
Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance
Supported and helped pass the Chicago Lakefront Protection Ordinance, to preserve the lakefront from encroaching development.
1973
North Park Village Nature Center
Openlands resists development plans for Chicago’s recently closed Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium site and supports community efforts to preserve it as an open space. This site is now the North Park Village Nature Center.
1974
Kennicott Grove
Openlands writes the feasibility study on preserving Kennicott Grove and works with residents and the village of Glenview to begin land acquisition.
1976
Opposed U.S. Steel's plan to fill Lake Michigan
After a ten-year battle supported by Openlands, the Illinois Supreme Court rules against U.S. Steel’s plan to fill in 195 acres of Lake Michigan.
1977
Garfield Farm
Garfield Farm is donated to Openlands, which today serves as a living history museum of Illinois farming practices.
1976
Thorn Creek Woods
Thorn Creek Woods is dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve after years of collaboration between local advocates and Openlands.
1979
Friends of the Chicago River
Friends of the Chicago River was established as a program of Openlands and has since become an independent organization.
1980
Nippersink Creek
Openlands acquires land along the Nippersink Creek, later transferred to McHenry County Conservation District, as part of a long-term effort to restore the Nippersink watershed.
1982
Upper Illinois Valley Association
Upper Illinois Valley Association (now Canal Corridor Association) is incorporated to advocate for the creation of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.
1982
Old Plank Road
Openlands coordinates and leads a ten-year organizing effort to acquire railroad land to create the Old Plank Road Trail in Will and Cook Counties.
1983
"An Open Land" exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago
An Open Land: Photographs of the Midwest, 1852-1982 exhibit opens at the Art Institute of Chicago, organized by Openlands.
1984
I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor Estabolished
President Ronald Reagan signs legislation establishing the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, the first national heritage area in the nation.
1985
Greenways
Openlands and the Illinois Prairie Trail Authority identify potential trails and greenway corridors in northeastern Illinois.
1986
Liberty Prairie Reserve
Openlands begins the land acquisition and easement program for Liberty Prairie Reserve in Lake County, Illinois.
1988
Tree Recycling
Openlands coordinates the first Chicago Christmas Tree recycling campaign.
1989
North Park Village Nature Center Easement
Openlands acquires the conservation easement to protect natural areas at North Park Village Nature Center.
1990
Vacant Lot Inventory
Openlands assembles the first city-wide inventory of vacant lots in Chicago.
1990
21st Century Open Space Plan
Openlands’ 21st Century Open Space Plan is launched, calling for a new generation of parks and gardens for the city of Chicago and a network of trails and greenways and large reserves of natural areas throughout the region.
1991
1992
Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways Plan
Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways Plan is published, creating a vision for a network of interconnected corridors of open land.
1992
Lake Renwick Heron Rookery
Lake Renwick Heron Rookery in Will Country is protected and dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve.
1993
American Greenways Award
Openlands receives the first American Greenways Award from The Conservation Fund and the National Geographic Society.
1993
Fort Sheridan Decommissioned
Fort Sheridan is decommissioned and Openlands advocates for protection of the site’s lakefront bluffs, ravines, and beach areas.
1993
Neighborhood Open Space Planning
Openlands’ Neighborhood Open Space Planning program was launched, with a focus on underserved Chicago neighborhoods.
1993
Chicago Ridge Prairie
Openlands acquires Chicago Ridge Prairie, a rare calcareous prairie, and now an Illinois Nature Preserve.
1994
Community Land Use Network
Openlands-led Community Land Use Network convinces Chicago to streamline the transfer of abandoned publicly-owned lands for productive uses, including affordable housing and community-managed green space.
1994
Terra Museum Exhibition
A partnership between Openlands and the Terra Museum results in an exhibition, Reclamation and Transformation: Three Self-Taught Chicago Artists. The artists David Philpot, Mr. Imagination, and Kevin Orth had transformed a vacant lot adjacent to the Elliott Donnelley Youth Center in Bronzeville.
1995
Treemendous Trees
Openlands and the Morton Arboretum launch the Treemendous Trees awards program, soliciting nominations for the largest trees of each species in northeastern Illinois, with a potential national champion and four possible state champions identified.
1995
Fort Sheridan Transfer
President Bill Clinton signs legislation approving the transfer of the northern part of Fort Sheridan to Lake County Forest Preserves.
1995
Grand Illinois Trail
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources opens the Grand Illinois Trail, a nearly 500-mile network of locally-managed routes for hiking and biking, many of which were built with support from Openlands.
1996
Midewin
After leadership and advocacy from Openlands, President Bill Clinton signed legislation to create Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie at the former Joliet Arsenal.
1996
Chicago Wilderness Alliance
1996
Streamleaders
Streamleaders program is launched to train volunteers to monitor stream quality and advocate for streams in the region.
1997
Burnham Greenway Acquisition
Openlands acquires Burnham Greenway to close a major trail gap between Chicago and south-suburban Burnham.
1997
Burnham Greenway Masterplan
Burnham Greenway Master Plan is published by the Forest Preserves of Cook County with assistance from Openlands.
1997
Updated Northeastern Illinois Regional Greeways & Trails Plan
The updated Northeastern Illinois Regional Greenways & Trails Plan is published, greatly expanding the recommended regional greenways network.
1998
"In Place of Prairie" exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago
Terry Evans photography exhibit, In Place of Prairie, opens at the Art Institute of Chicago as part of Openlands’ 35th Anniversary celebration.
1998
"Losing Ground" Report
Openlands releases extensive mapping project and report, “Losing Ground: Land Consumption in the Chicago Region, 1990–1998,” showing the threat of urban sprawl in the previous decade.
1999
"Under Pressure" Report
A second Openlands mapping effort and report, “Under Pressure: Land Consumption in the Chicago Region 1998–2028,” describes the harmful effects of current trends in unchecked development.
1999
Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails Plan
Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails Plan which outlines a coordinated system of water trails for non-motorized boating written by Openlands, the Illinois Paddling Council, and Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, is adopted.
1999
Calumet Area Land Use Plan
Openlands participates significantly in the production of the Calumet Area Land Use Plan, a major milestone in creating and protecting open space in the Lake Calumet region.
2001
Tinley Creek-Bartel Grassland
Openlands, the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the Chicago Audubon Society, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begin the restoration of Tinley Creek Wetlands and Bartel Grasslands.
2002
"Rapid Biological Inventories" Publication
Openlands partners with the Field Museum, Center for US-China Arts Exchange, Southwest Forestry College (Kunming), Gaoligongshan Natural Reserve Management Bureau, Yunnan Provincial Association for Cultural Exchanges with Foreign Countries, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill on the publication, Rapid Biological Inventories: 04. China: Yunnan, Southern Gaoligongshan.
2004
Fort Sheridan Transfer to Openlands
President George W. Bush signs legislation authorizing the transfer of 77 acres at the former Fort Sheridan to Openlands for permanent protection.
2005
"Revealing Chicago" Exhibit at Millennium Park
Revealing Chicago: An Aerial Portrait exhibit opens at Millennium Park with photographs by Terry Evans commissioned by Openlands and Chicago Metropolis 2020.
2005
O'Hare Modernization Program
Openlands begins extensive wetlands restoration at five public sites in the region funded through the O’Hare Modernization program.
2006
Building School Gardens
Building School Gardens program is launched in partnership with Chicago Public Schools to create gardens as teaching spaces and provide training for teachers and administrators.
2006
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer beetles are first detected in Chicago and TreeKeepers are trained to monitor the spread of the infestation.
Image by Eric R. Day
2007
Northeastern Illinois Water Trails Map
Northeastern Illinois Water Trails Map is updated and published.
2008
Deer Grove East Restoration
Openlands begins restoration work at Deer Grove East, working closely with the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other partners, the start of a seven-year effort funded by the O’Hare Modernization program.
2009
Published Before the Well Runs Dry
Before the Well Runs Dry: Ensuring Sustainable Water Supplies for Illinois is published as a joint initiative of the Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands, calling for long-term planning for sustaining the state’s finite and fragile water supplies.
2009
Yunnan Province Exchange
Openlands partners with Columbia University, the Field Museum, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill on the report Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Yunnan Province, published by the Center for US-China Arts Exchange.
2011
2011
Kankakee River Water Trail
2011
Calumet Connections Regional Trail System
Openlands and the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission bring together 11 communities in Illinois and Indiana to create the cross-border Calumet Connections regional trail system.
2012
Hackmatack Established
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is authorized by the U.S. Department of the Interior; Openlands acquires the first property for the refuge.
2012
Opposing Tollway
Openlands organizes a coalition of 30 partners to oppose the proposed Illiana Tollway and protect regional open space treasures such as Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
2013
Birds in My Neighborhood
Birds in My Neighborhood program is established to bring birding to elementary school children across the region.
2013
Land Trust Alliance Accreditation
The Land Trust Alliance awards accreditation to Openlands for meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.
2013
Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Illinois Nature Preserve Dedication
Openlands Lakeshore Preserve is dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve.
2013
Urban Forestry Initiative
Openlands launches the Urban Forestry Initiative to plant 5,000 trees on public land in Chicago with seed funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
2013
"Our Liquid Asset" Publication
Openlands published a study with Friends of the Chicago River caked “Our Liquid Asset: The Economic Benefits of a Clean Chicago River.”
2014
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
The Chicago Region Trees Initiative is launched by The Morton Arboretum and Openlands, with partners from other leading organizations, to build a healthier and more diverse urban forest by 2040.
2014
TreePlanters Grant
Openlands launches the TreePlanters grant program to support communities that organize neighbors to plant new trees and care for them.
2014
Next Century Conservation Plan
The Next Century Conservation Plan, written in partnership with Openlands and Metropolis Strategies, is formally accepted by the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
2014
Space to Grow
Openlands and Healthy Schools Campaign launch Space to Grow to transform Chicago schoolyards through green infrastructure, with capital partners Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Department of Water Management, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
2017
Paddle Northeastern Illinois
Openlands launches Paddle Illinois Water Trails, an interactive digital guide for canoeing and kayaking on the waterways of northeastern Illinois.
2018
Plain, Air Performance
Openlands partners with Specktral Quartet for the world premiere of composer Tonia Ko’s Plain, Air at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, which inspired the music.
2019
Get Outside Map
Openlands launched the Get Outside Map, a comprehensive tool for connecting people to parks, preserves, natural areas, and trails in the region.
2020
African American Heritage Water Trail
Openlands with community partners debut the African American Heritage Water Trail along the Little Calumet River.
2021
UFAB
After a multi-year advocacy effort by TreeKeepers and others, an Urban Forestry Advisory Board ordinance is passed in Chicago City Council.
2021
Arborist Registered Apprenticeship
The Arborist Registered Apprenticeship program is created as a workforce development program to produce skilled arborists.
2022
Spanish TreeKeepers
Openlands runs the first Treekeepers course in Spanish.
2022
Museum Campus
Openlands participates in a planning process to re-envision Chicago’s Museum Campus as an urban nature retreat and contributes to the report “Where Worlds Connect.”
2022
“Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife” referendum
With partners in Cook County, Openlands leads the successful passage of the “Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife” referendum to invest $45 million in supporting the Forest Preserves of Cook County to implement The Next Century Conservation Plan.
2023
Green and Growing Summit
Openlands hosts the first Green and Growing Summit, a gathering of educators around the Chicago region to advance garden and nature-based education.
2023
Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Transferred to LCFPD
Openlands Lakeshore Preserve is transferred to the Lake County Forest Preserves for long-term preservation.