Rolling Knolls should go public

I am writing to urge Cook County to strongly consider acquiring the land at the Rolling Knolls Country Club in Hanover Township for inclusion in the Cook County Forest Preserve.

There could be no higher use for that land. There could be no better steward for that land. We all know there are enough houses, townhomes, condominiums, and apartment buildings in Cook County. And there will be more. There are enough office buildings, strip malls, gas stations, car lots ... and there will be more.

No one decries a lack of congestion in Cook County. There is not enough free and open land in Cook County, and it will become increasing more difficult to acquire it; to regenerate it.

The land in the Rolling Knolls Country Club is well maintained in a near natural state, with Poplar Creek running through it, and the Poplar Creek Forest Preserve connecting to it. Under the custodianship of the Cook County Forest Preserve it could become a gem of the Elgin community, Hanover Township, Cook County and the state of Illinois.

Darren Harris

Elgin