Local conservation projects honored for leadership
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness have recognized conservation projects in several northwest and western suburbs for their leadership in promoting different aspects of environmental friendliness.
This year's winners for outstanding conservation, native landscaping and sustainable design projects include the Grigsby Prairie in Barrington Hills, Mill Creek Community Park in Geneva, the Butler Lake Ecosystem Restoration in Libertyville and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve Stream Restoration in Naperville.
These four projects were among 14 so recognized from throughout the Chicago Wilderness region. This is the crescent of land that extends from southeastern Wisconsin through northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana into southwestern Michigan.
In addition to those winners, the Geneva Park District and the Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards in Hoffman Estates were among four entities honored for outstanding contributions to habitat and biodiversity conservation.
The final award category was a certificate of merit for six projects. Two local winners were Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Naperville for its use of native plant landscaping, and the prairie garden planted in front of the Schaumburg offices of Tallgrass Restoration LLC.
All winners were recognized ceremony at the Chicago Botanic Garden last week.