Support Kane’s open space vote

Everyone loves seeing the bald eagles along the Fox River and Randall Road. They probably wouldn’t live here if it wasn’t for the open space the residents of Kane County overwhelmingly voted to set side through past bond referendums.

While the eagles are the most obvious, there are many other native bird species making a comeback because of the restoration of their habitats.

We have the opportunity to protect even more land by voting for the Kane County Forest Land Acquisition and Preserve Improvement Referendum. For about a buck a month, we can set aside 1,500 to 2,000 acres and pay for more restoration projects to support even more wildlife success stories.

The Kane County Forest Preserve District will also use the funds to improve the sites by building bike paths and picnic shelters. The KCFPD has a great track record of finding quality parcels that perform their important ecological functions like retaining rainwater so that it refills our aquifers instead of flooding the streams and rivers. These properties support a multitude of native plants and animals while providing the residents with a wide range of recreational and educational opportunities.

Open space also prevents high population density, which holds down property tax expenditures like the need for schools, streets, sewers, police and fire protection while controlling traffic congestion.

The collapse of the housing market has resulted in a significant drop in land prices which makes it easier for the KCFPD to purchase critical property to set aside as open space. The $30 million bond today can buy as much land as the $70 million bond did five years ago.

Please vote YES on the Kane County Forest Land Acquisition and Preserve Improvement Referendum. It does so much for only $12 a year.

Jeffrey Duncan

North Aurora