Volunteers needed for Prospect Hts. prairie seed planting day

Like getting your hands dirty? Make an investment in a major community project that you can really feel good about. while having a good time with your neighbors.

From 9 a.m.-noon on Sunday, Dec. 7, the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission will conduct an important Prairie Seed Restoration Project Day sponsored by ComEd and the Openlands Green Region Program, the City of Prospect Heights and the Prospect Heights Park District.

Volunteer nature stewards will hand-sow more than 60 pounds of native, local prairie seed along 5 acres of the Prospect Heights Bike Trail just east of Country Gardens Park, 901 N. Schoenbeck Road.

This prairie planting will replace the Eurasian nonnative grasses with more than 100 species of prairie plants. The prairie will provide critical habitat and biodiversity for the wildlife in the area, while improving the aesthetic and recreational value to residents.

Instructions and buckets of premixed seed will be provided.

The colder winter days are optimum time for prairie seed planting. Dress appropriately for the weather (multiple layers are a good idea). Stay as long as you can - although even just an hour or two will be deeply appreciated.

To get to the restoration site, take Schoenbeck Road to north of Palatine Road. Turn right onto West Stonegate Drive (the third side street north of Palatine Road on the left side). Proceed until road merges with South Wildwood Drive - stay to the right. Follow Wildwood Drive to Sherwood Drive, where you turn right and park along Sherwood Drive. The group will be in the field near the bike path.

The prairie restoration project is a partnership between Openlands and ComEd to administer the Green Region Program. Recognizing that open space in local communities is a crucial element of the quality of lives, the ComEd program awards grants for municipal efforts to plan for, protect and improve open land in ComEd's northern Illinois service area. The grants support existing open space projects that focus on conservation, preservation and improvements to local parks and recreation resources.

Learn more about the project at www.phnrc.com.

For information on the Dec. 7 workday, call Agnes Wojnarski at (224) 659-0002.