Forest officials hope to buy riverfront land

Kane County Forest Preserve officials are hoping a large piece of land they've had their eye on for more than a decade might be available to buy soon.

The preserve's executive committee voted Friday to authorize negotiations with the Brunner family, owners of a 745-acre property along on the west side of the Fox River, near Carpentersville.

Talks had gone on over the past decade, but Friday's vote added in a few extra parcels that had been inadvertently left out, said John Hoscheit, forest preserve president.

"It's just gorgeous," he said, adding that the property is the largest piece of undeveloped land along the river in the county, he said.

"In terms of rating properties over the years, this one has been near the top," he said. "But we didn't have a willing seller up until now."

The property includes part of the area that the county is interested in for the proposed Longmeadow Parkway, and the forest preserve would work with officials on that, Hoscheit said.

In the past, others have pitched a state park and residential development for the site, but the Brunner family has indicated they like the idea of it going to the forest preserve.

"It's always cautious optimism when we get to this point," Hoscheit said. "We'll see."