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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING OPENLANDS, THE DESIGN PROJECT TEAM, AND THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY FOR RECEIVING A MERIT AWARD FROM THE SOCIETY FOR EXPERIENTIAL GRAPHIC DESIGN’S GLOBAL DESIGN COMPETITION FOR THE INTERPRETIVE TRAILS PROJECT AT DEER GROVE EAST AND KILLDEER WETLANDS
WHEREAS, in July 2020 the Interpretive Trails Project at Deer Grove East and Killdeer Wetlands received a Merit Award in the category of Placemaking and Identity from the Society for Experiential Graphic Design’s Global Design Competition; and
WHEREAS, Deer Grove East, located in Palatine, Illinois, features nearly 1500 acres of diverse habitat such as rolling upland forest, wooded ravines, wetlands and prairie; supports over 300 unique species of native plants along with a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians; and was one of the first parcels acquired by the Forest Preserves of Cook County in 1916; and
WHEREAS, Killdeer Wetlands, located within 1600 acres of Bartel Grassland in Tinley Park, Illinois, is a former agricultural field that is now home to an increasing variety of native plant and bird species as restoration efforts have made the landscape more open and encouraged native species to return to the site’s new mesic and wet prairies, sedge meadows and emergent wetlands; and
WHEREAS, starting in 2010 the Forest Preserves began working with Openlands to commemorate the Forest Preserves’ centennial year by collaborating on the design of interpretive elements at Deer Grove East and Killdeer Wetlands to not only inspire and engage visitors but also to blend in seamlessly with the natural beauty of the sites; and
WHEREAS, a team of architects, naturalists, curators, and engineers worked to develop a new model for nature interpretation at Deer Grove East and Killdeer Wetlands that transcends conventional interpretive elements, and focuses more on the restorative experience of spending time in nature by encouraging observation, reflection and transformation with less emphasis on traditional interpretive design and didactic text; and
WHEREAS, these new interpretive elements combine function, interpretation and aesthetic form and include the installation of serial metal signs, stone benches and tables, metal bridge railings, topography maps and stone disks to draw visitors’ attention to the natural themes of land, sky, and water and prompting both curiosity and contemplation; and
WHEREAS, these interpretive elements, installed along the trail systems at Deer Grove East and Killdeer Wetlands, use natural and local materials, are contemporary and rich in design, and encourage exploration of these important natural habitats; and
WHEREAS, the Society for Experiential Graphic Design is an organization of global design professionals focused on teaching and highlighting the best of communication design in the built environment; and
WHEREAS, only 30 projects out of 340 entries were selected by an international jury to receive an award and the Interpretive Trails Project at Deer Grove East and Killdeer Wetlands was one of these innovative projects to be recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulate Openlands, the design team, Forest Preserves’ staff, and everyone involved in the development of the Interpretive Trails Project at Deer Grove East and Killdeer Wetlands for receiving this prestigious award and thank them for their commitment to the mission of the Forest Preserves; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to the awardees as a token of appreciation for their service to the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the residents of Cook County.
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