Salt Creek Greenway Association Offers Program on Saving Natural Areas March 23rd

The Salt Creek Greenway Association will present author and natural areas advocate Bernice Benedict Popelka at the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Police Headquarters, north side of 31st Street, west of Wolf Road, Westchester, Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 1:30 PM.

Peacock Prairie, one of the last tall-grass black-soil virgin prairies in the Chicago area was saved by a group of citizens led by Bernice Popelka between 1965 and 1966. Bernice was also involved in saving Wolf Road Prairie in the beginning days.

After moving to Wisconsin, Bernice commenced to gather her records and write about it in her

recently published book, “Saving Peacock Prairie”.

Peacock Prairie is now known as the James Woodworth Prairie owned and managed by the University of Illinois Chicago. Through the years, it has been recognized as a rare gem among prairies.

Having grown up in rural Wisconsin, Bernice is acquainted with natural areas. She has spent most of her adult life working on preservation issues in both Wisconsin and Illinois. Currently she lives in the Milwaukee area.

For more information about this free program and book review at Wolf Road Prairie, email stpsspale@aol.com or call 708-865-8736 to reserve your spot.

Wolf Road Prairie is owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission oversees management and protection of the site.