Bike, then plant to support Lake Co. nature area
This year's Prairie Pedal bike ride will give people of all ages the opportunity to plant wildflowers in a Libertyville Township nature preserve as part of the restoration of the site.
Prairie Pedal, organized by the Liberty Prairie Conservancy and now in its 14th year, is a family-oriented bike ride through open space in central Lake County. It will be held this year on Sunday, May 16. Prairie Pedal participants choose from four different route lengths - 4, 9, 12 or 27 miles - that take riders on trails and two rural roads closed to through traffic. The event averages more than 550 riders.
Riders can start between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. from the Northwestern Lake Forest Grayslake Campus, 1475 E. Belvidere Road in Grayslake.
When they get to the Oak Openings Nature Preserve north of routes 137 and 45, riders will help restore native plants. The Liberty Prairie Conservancy has been partnering with the landowner, Libertyville Township, on the project.
"Native grasses and wildflowers are not only beautiful but they support beneficial wildlife such as songbirds and butterflies," says Steve Barg, the conservancy's executive director. "The township's commitment to restoring this area and other open land it owns is really commendable."
Nature education features will include live hawks and owls by Linda Breuer, a raptor rehabilitator from Wauconda, and live reptiles from the Village of Lake Forest's Wildlife Discovery Center.
"This is a unique event that gets families outside together and connects kids to nature in fun ways," says Barg.
Admission is $25 for adults, $15 for ages 6-17 and free for those under 6. It includes the ride experience, nature education, lunch, ice cream, live music and massages. Proceeds from Prairie Pedal benefit the Liberty Prairie Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that preserves wildlife habitat, farmland and other open space in Lake County.
Registration can be accomplished online, by phone or on the day of the event. Visit libertyprairie.org or call (847) 548-5989, ext. 33, for more information or to register.