Donation adds 24 acres to Salt Creek Marsh

The Salt Creek Marsh Forest Preserve near Wood Dale and Itasca will grow by more than 24 acres thanks to a land donation from a real estate trust to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

The district's board of commissioners recently agreed to accept the 24.17-acre donation, which is located south of Thorndale Avenue, between Wood Dale Road and Prospect Avenue. The district also agreed to pay about $27,000 in costs associated with the transaction.

About 95 percent of the property is in a floodplain and about 98 percent includes wetlands and a quarter-mile of Salt Creek.

"We're thankful for this very generous donation, which will provide additional open space and natural habitat for the benefit of all residents in DuPage County," forest district President Joe Cantore said.

"The district will care for this land and make sure it serves the greater good for all residents of the county," said Forest Preserve District Commissioner Marsha Murphy, District 1.

The 114-acre Salt Creek Marsh Forest Preserve is a natural area comprising ponds, wetlands and floodplain along Salt Creek. The preserve hosts wetland birds such as great egrets, spotted sandpipers and great blue herons, and its retention basins and marshes aid in stormwater control for the surrounding communities.