title
PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Department of Planning and Development
Grantee: Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”)
Grantor: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (“IDNR”), Springfield, Illinois
Request: Authorization to accept grant and to enter into grant agreement
Purpose: For the acquisition of a 79-acre parcel in Sauk Village in southeast Cook County, Illinois
Grant Amount: $1,067,500.00
Grant Period: 4/8/2025 - 3/31/2027
Fiscal Impact: Not to Exceed $1,067,500.00
Accounts: Real Estate and Land Acquisition Fund 51006.560010; and Grant Fund 51010.560010
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final grant agreement is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 6
Summary: The Forest Preserves has been awarded an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (“OSLAD”) grant for 50% of the estimated cost to acquire a 79-acre parcel in Sauk Village in southeast Cook County, Illinois. This property will connect to a series of smaller parcels - totaling 192 acres - purchased by the Forest Preserves over the last ten (10) years, creating a 271-acre contiguous preserve to support wildlife and outdoor recreation amenities. The proposed acquisition would advance the Forest Preserves’ Southeast Cook County Land Acquisition Plan, a data-driven vision to protect land and support community resilience, and will generate multiple benefits to residents, including reduced flooding and improved air quality. After acquisition, the Forest Preserves will begin restoration and development of the site to ensure public access, including the installation of a picnic grove and parking lot.
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