At the turn of the last century, our ancestors did not have to worry about preserving open space - it was everywhere around them.

Times have changed.

Now 100 years later, we find ourselves fighting to protect the unspoiled vistas our forefathers so freely enjoyed.

Throughout the last century, the landscape of the Western suburbs has changed as developers have gobbled up land to build houses, shopping malls and business parks.

As more land falls to development, we are learning to treasure - and protect - the remaining natural areas. Now we back referendums to buy up those remaining open areas, volunteer to help clean up rivers and help take care of injured animals to ensure there are natural treasures to enjoy in the next century.

Rivers In the Western suburbs, the Fox and DuPage rivers remain central attractions.

We walk along their banks, take a ride down them in a canoe or motor boat or fish in them. And in several towns - like Naperville, St. Charles, Geneva or Batavia - the rivers are the center of downtown districts featuring riverwalks and parks on the riverbanks.

"People go to enjoy themselves," said Brook McDonald, executive director of the Conservation Foundation in Naperville. "They are drawn to water."

Keeping the river water clean, however, hasn't always been easy.

Finding a smallmouth bass or northern pike, for example, was nearly impossible 10 years ago in the DuPage River. And through the years both rivers have been polluted by run-off from new developments and sewage treatment plants.

"It's been changed quite a bit by people," naturalist Mary Ochsenschlager said of the Fox River.

But both rivers are making a comeback.

Park districts and forest preserve districts have bought up land around the rivers to protect their banks, sewage treatment plants have improved their operations to decrease the amount of pollution in the rivers and volunteers in DuPage County are working to clean up the DuPage River.

"The comeback of the DuPage River is one of the most impressive," McDonald said, noting volunteers have hauled away 118 tons of garbage from the river in annual cleanups. "We've seen dramatic improvement."

Looking to the future, McDonald said programs are under way to involve property owners along the east and west branches of the DuPage to improve the habitat and decrease erosion. Kane County environmentalists also are working toward similar goals on the Fox, Ochsenschlager said.

"(The rivers) are our jewels," she said.

Trees As more homes dot the landscape in the western suburbs, mature trees are becoming a rare species.

But we can still take in the beauty of a mature oak or a gingko at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

Founded by Joy Morton in 1922, the Morton Arboretum in Lisle offers 1,700 acres of plants, trees and gardens. Visitors can take in the beauty of more than 3,600 different kinds of plants and trees.

Morton inherited his love for plants and trees from his father, who started Arbor Day in 1872. That love led Joy Morton to transform his estate into the arboretum.

"I want something to develop during the balance of my life on ground for which I have a personal affection and I hope the work may prolong my life," Morton wrote to his son when he began work on the arboretum in 1921.

Today, his work attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year.

Wildlife Enamored with the animals in the area, the Chase family donated 50 acres to the DuPage County Forest Preserve District in 1955 to provide a haven for wildlife.

Today, volunteers and veterinarians operate a wildlife hospital of sorts and nurse everything from owls and bald eagles to foxes and woodchucks back to health. During its peak season, the Willowbrook Wildlife Center can have up to 500 animals waiting for care.

The center also has become a resource to many people as we are forced to learn more about the coyotes, deer and other critters we often find trotting through our back yards.

"With all the development occurring and the increase of animals in this area, people are going to see animals or wildlife in their back yards," said Susi Pihera, an administrative specialist at the center. "Our main mission is to educate people about wildlife and how to co-exist with it."

Daily Herald Staff Writer Robert McCoppin contributed to this story.

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