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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY FOR RECEIVING THE 2020 ILLINOIS ARCHAEOLOGY PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD FROM THE ILLINOIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
WHEREAS, the Illinois Archaeological Survey is a society of professional archaeologists and other technical professionals dedicated to identifying and preserving important archaeological resources throughout the state of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves of Cook County has been awarded the 2020 Illinois Archaeology Public Service Award, which recognizes important contributions to Illinois archaeology by public figures, private citizens, organizations and programs for their outstanding efforts to promote, protect and preserve cultural resources; and
WHEREAS, Forest Preserves of Cook County lands contain approximately 620 of the 1,200 recorded cultural sites in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, in 2014 the Forest Preserves of Cook County partnered with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey--a subset of the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute--to develop the Natural and Cultural Resources Master Plan, which catalogued and prioritized the Forest Preserves’ natural and cultural resources and informed strategies to guide implementation of the Forest Preserves’ Next Century Conservation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves of Cook County, in partnership with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, have made important contributions to Illinois archaeology through their work on cultural resources within the preserves, including the professional systematic survey of over 4,000 new acres, the identification of 59 new archaeological sites, the establishment of a cultural resource management plan, and prioritization of cultural sites across Forest Preserves lands; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves has established a public outreach program to inform the public of Cook County’s cultural history, and has incorporated cultural resource training into its Youth Outdoor Ambassador and Greencorps Chicago employment programs, which to-date have provided field and laboratory instruction for over 100 Chicago-area youth; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves of Cook County has continued to integrate archaeological resource management into its operations and decision-making processes and continues to pursue State protection of its cultural resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulate the Forest Preserves for receiving the Illinois Archaeology Public Service Award and recognize the significant steps that have been taken by the Forest Preserves to preserve our region’s cultural history.end