Lake Barrington receives grant to improve open lands

The Village of Lake Barrington recently received a $7,000 grant in support of its Healthy Hedges project, which will replace the buckthorn trees on Old Barrington Road.

Earlier this year, Cuba Township Road District volunteered to remove the buckthorn trees that were adjacent to the village hall along Old Barrington Road. With that work now complete, the village will use the grant funds to plant native hedges in place of the removed buckthorn and honeysuckle.

In addition to improving the community's environment, the grant funds will enable residents to see firsthand how native trees, shrubs and plants can serve as effective replacements for buckthorn and honeysuckle trees on their own property.

Open Lands and the ComEd Green Region Program presented the Village of Lake Barrington with this grant. Additionally, the Lake Barrington/Countryside Park District, Citizens for Conservation, and the Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watershed Partnership have indicated that they will be providing assistance to Lake Barrington in completing the project.

"This important project will both improve the visual appearance along Old Barrington Road and provide a useful example for residents considering the removal of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle from their own properties," said Lake Barrington Village President Kevin Richardson.

"We are thankful to Open Lands and the ComEd Green Region Program for providing these grant funds to us, and we likewise appreciate the other organizations that have volunteered to help us complete this project. Planting these hedges will go a long way in furthering the village's mission of being an oasis of gracious countryside living."