REI grant benefits forest preserves

The Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserve recently received a $15,000 Outdoor Places grant from specialty retailer REI. The funds support access improvements and other projects completed this summer through the forest preserve district's partnership with Youth Conservation Corps. Projects included extending an existing boardwalk along the education loop trail at Ryerson Woods, converting grass trails to wood chip trails at preserves, such as Lakewood and Van Patten, and planting 75,000 wetland plugs at Ethel's Woods Forest Preserve among others. The foundation was one of 10 Chicago-area nonprofits to benefit this year from REI's $160,000 grant program.