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PROPOSED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AMENDMENT
Request: Requesting authorization for the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”) to amend its Partnership Agreement with Openlands, Chicago, Illinois.
Reason: The Forest Preserves wishes to accept additional grant funding of up to $166,000.00 to expand restoration activities undertaken in association with the installation of a community gathering space at Beaubien Woods
Contract Period: Original 10/5/2021 (1/11/2022 - 9/30/2023); Board Approved Extensions 6/27/2023 (10/1/2023 - 12/31/2024) and 10/22/2024 (1/1/2025 - 12/31/2026)
Fiscal Impact: N/A. The project will continue to be implemented at no direct cost to the Forest Preserves, which may provide in-kind staff support for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the projects.
Account(s): Grant and Mitigation 51010.521314 and 51010.521444
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final amendment is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 4, 5
Summary: Openlands has received and would like to contribute $66,000.00 in additional funding to support the expansion of ecological restoration activities at Beaubien Woods, located on the south side of Chicago. These funds are part of a grant-funded project first initiated in 2022 through the generous contributions of the Walder Foundation and the Central Indiana Foundation.
The newly acquired funds will be utilized to expand invasive brush removal and weed control efforts across an additional 20 acres at Beaubien Woods. The Forest Preserves previously received authority to accept up to $74,000.00 in additional grant funding for this project (Board Item No. 24-0433). However, this amount has already been exceeded due to Openlands’ successful fundraising efforts. As such, the Forest Preserves is once again preemptively seeking authority to accept up to $100,000.00 in additional grant funding (in addition to the $66,000.00 already raised) from Openlands to account for future fundraising that may occur. To date, just under $500,000.00 has been raised in support of this project by Openlands.
The project is being conducted at no direct cost to the Forest Preserves, and builds on plans developed by the Forest Preserves, local communities, and several other governmental organizations and nonprofits to create access to nature and the Little Calumet River. The project was originally approved by the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners on 10/5/2021 (Board Item No. 21-0453) and subsequently amended on 6/27/2023 (Board Item No. 23-0387) and 10/22/2024 (Board Item No. 24-0433) in order to extend the term and accept additional grant funding. The original agreement also referred to the creation of a community gathering space, which has been addressed via a separate partnership agreement with The Field Museum of Natural History and Artist Christine Perri (see Board Item No. 22-0521).
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