Cook County forest preserve buys land near Palatine

The Forest Preserves of Cook County's board on Tuesday approved the purchase of about 2.4 acres at 700 W. Dundee Road near Palatine, adjacent to the Deer Grove East preserve and the newly renovated Camp Reinberg.

The forest district is paying $360,000 for the site, out of its Real Estate Acquisition Fund.

"This parcel offers numerous benefits because of its proximity to Deer Grove East," said Arnold Randall, general superintendent of forest preserve district. "The Deer Grove preserves have been identified as one of the top four priority sites in the Forest Preserves' Natural and Cultural Resources Master Plan. This acquisition allows us to prevent the land surrounding such a high-quality ecological site from future development."

Deer Grove was the site of forest preserve's first land acquisition in 1916, and the Deer Grove preserves (Deer Grove, Deer Grove West and Deer Grove East) have grown from their initial 500 acres to approximately 1,800 acres. The preserves include a variety of habitats, including wetlands, woodland, savanna and prairie, and are used for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and jogging.

Deer Grove East recently underwent an O'Hare Modernization Mitigation Account restoration project of its wetlands and prairie. Beginning this winter, to restoration work will extend to Deer Grove West.