Byron Forest Preserve District acquires 160 acres

Posted 12/15/17

The Byron Forest Preserve District recently announced the acquisition of a new 160 acre preserve.

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Byron Forest Preserve District acquires 160 acres

Posted

BYRON – The Byron Forest Preserve District recently announced the acquisition of a new 160 acre preserve.  
The Bald Hill Preserve is located at 5502 North Silver Creek Road in the southwest corner of the District. The property was recently purchased with the help of a $434,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
“We would like to thank Peter McDaid and the Natural Land Institute for working with us after the auction and the Clean Energy Community Foundation for their generous grant support that made the purchase of the new Bald Hill Preserve happen,” said Todd Tucker, executive director, Byron Forest Preserve District. “This is a great new natural area.”
This section of land was part of the Leaf River Ranch auction that was held in June, 2017. Peter McDaid of Elk Grove Village purchased this property and several other adjacent sections at the auction.

Upon hearing that the Byron Forest Preserve District was interested in preserving this rare gravel hill prairie, he then agreed to sell the property to the Natural Land Institute.
The total cost for the 160 acre property was $652,000.
The Byron Forest Preserve District then purchased the property from the Natural Land Institute in November using the grant they received in October from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation to pay for two thirds of the project.
This unique property has been known as Bald Hill to area residents for over 150 years and is its unique steep gravel hill is named in the 1872 Ogle County Atlas. The new preserve has a 192-foot elevation difference from the low to high elevations of the property. The views of the surrounding countryside are spectacular. Several rare prairie and savanna plant species have already been identified by the District’s restoration staff. The District will take full ownership of the new property on March 1, 2018.
The Byron Forest Preserve District was established in 1980 to provide for the preservation of open space and natural resources, to provide education concerning our natural environment and to provide recreation opportunities for visitors. The District currently oversees over 2,100 acres of natural lands at several preserves sites that include native prairies, savannas, woodlands and wetlands.
For more information call 815 234-8535, Ext. 200 or visit their website at www.byronforestpreserve.com.