Pavilion, disc golf course unveiled at Rolling Knolls Forest Preserve
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Jordan Kondrath of Streamwood plays the Forest Preserves of Cook County's Rolling Knolls professional-level disc golf course near Elgin Tuesday. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
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The LEED-certified pavilion and the professional-level disc golf course is officially unveiled as the Forest Preserves of Cook County celebrates the completion of the facilities at Rolling Knolls, near Elgin Tuesday. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
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Cook County Board Commissioner Tim Schneider (15th District) speaks as the Forest Preserves of Cook County celebrates the completion of Rolling Knolls' LEED-certified pavilion and professional-level disc golf course near Elgin Tuesday. Schneider's family once owned the land the preserve in located on, and he grew up in a house that remains there. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
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View of the patio at Rolling Knolls' LEED-certified pavilion at the forest preserve, located near Elgin, Tuesday. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
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View of the pond at the Forest Preserves of Cook County Rolling Knolls Forest Preserve near Elgin Tuesday. Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Forest Preserves of Cook County Tuesday evening celebrated the completion of a pavilion and professional-level disc golf course in the Rolling Knolls Forest Preserve in Hanover Township near Elgin.
The event included a ribbon-cutting, a Films in the Forest screening of "The Incredibles," family-friendly activities based on the film and the opportunity to play disc golf.
The 55 acres that once made up the Rolling Knolls Golf Course was purchased by the forest preserve district in January 2010 for $5.75 million. The district held town hall meetings in 2011 to show residents potential development plans and get feedback.
The amenities unveiled Tuesday were among ones that seemed appropriate based on the nature of the land, community feedback and the district's mission, spokeswoman Lambrini Lukidis said Tuesday.
The Rolling Knolls farm was purchased in 1949 by the family of Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider. The family converted it to a nine-hole golf course in 1962, and then to 18 holes in 1989. In December 2008, the Elgin City Council approved a housing development on part of the land, but shortly thereafter the county expressed its intention to purchase the property.
After the purchase, the district determined retaining a golf course would require a big capital investment that was not feasible given increasing competition in the market.
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