Lakewood preserve set to grow - but just a little

Lake County's largest forest preserve is set to get just a smidgen bigger.

At roughly one-twentieth of an acre, the Fremont Township parcel that will be added to the Lakewood Forest Preserve is far from the district's largest purchase. It will, however, reinforce Lakewood's long-standing title as the district's biggest holding.

Sprawling across the intersection of Route 176 and Fairfield Road, Lakewood covers about 2,686 acres. It's home to trails, picnic shelters, a dog exercise area and the Lake County Discovery Museum.

At 1,225 acres, the Rollins Savanna near Grayslake places a distant second when it comes to preserve size.

The site being eyed at Lakewood is on the north side of Route 176, east of Fairfield Road. It's now owned by the Hoffman family, which runs the nearby Hoffman's Greenhouses business.

District officials wanted the land to help even out Lakewood's boundaries, said forest district commissioner Diana O'Kelly, whose district includes the site. If the deal is approved, the land will cost the district $9,000.

"It's just a little, teeny piece," O'Kelly said.

The Lakewood expansion is one of four proposed land purchases the forest board will consider at its July 22 meeting. Also planned are:

A nearly 7-acre addition to the Fourth Lake preserve near Lindenhurst that will cost $315,000.

A roughly 10-acre addition to the Pine Dunes preserve near Wadsworth, at a cost of $380,000.

A nearly 22-acre addition to Pine Dunes, at a cost of $700,700.

If the deals are approved, the Fourth Lake preserve will swell to more than 516 acres and Pine Dunes will grow to 255 acres.