Airport project belies officials' promises

Referring to the recent transfer of land in Lake Forest from Openlands to the Lake County Forest Preserve, Executive Director Ty Kovach said, "Two miles of public shoreline is just amazing in public ownership. This means it will be in public ownership forever. That's pretty special." (emphasis mine)

I'm sure the people of Waukegan, Beach Park and Wadsworth thought it was pretty special when the Waukegan Savanna was purchased 30 years ago. The forest preserve made the same promise of public ownership in perpetuity to them, to all of us, with that purchase.

But evidently some parcels, or some towns, are more important than others.

Now the forest preserve is seriously considering selling 52 acres of the Waukegan Savanna so the Waukegan Airport can extend a runway to allow a few executives to fly farther nonstop. The ultimate in greed and entitlement at the expense of local residents.

From the quiet of grasslands and trees to the roar of jet engines.

I encourage all members of the forest preserve board to think about the importance of public ownership of land and maintaining the trust of their constituents. This is a project that should never have gotten this far.

Susan Zingle

Wadsworth