Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting
July 7, 2026, Mathew Bieszczat Volunteer Resource Center, 6100 N. Central Ave., Chicago
Highlights notes, Deborah Stone
All other items on the agenda not addressed below, passed (or if reports, were received and filed as appropriate).
Item 26-0118:  Laurel Ross gave the monthly report of the Conservation and Policy Council Monthly Report. She noted the Consent Calendar item recognizing two volunteers is the tip of the iceberg of the extensive volunteer activity at the Preserves which has been ongoing for many decades. She cited some of the many other good things going on at the Preserves which were not included in the General Superintendent’s report. They included work with state agencies on restoring Blandings Turtles and inventorying rare plants, a successful winter restoration season, and participation of 143 young people in Conservation Corps summer. She wanted the fact that the Referendum funding is making a difference, such as in the recent addition to Thorn Creek Meadow, an important bird area, to be publicized.
Item 26-0328: The area designated for operation of Brookfield Zoo was temporarily expanded by 3.37 acres of low ecological value, for temporary overflow parking while construction work is going on at the Zoo.
Item 26-0330: Proposed Amendments to the Forest Preserves Land Use Fees were sent to the Real Estate Committee.
Item 26-0327: The annual Energy Expense Report, now required by the 9/25 contract with Ameresco, was sent to Finance.
Item 26-0271: Report on status of achieving the goal of a Model Forest Preserve Police Department was sent to the Law Enforcement Committee.
Item 26-0268: Contract with two solar energy vendors to provide on-site ground-mounted solar through a Power Purchase Agreement at the Central Maintenance Compound in Maywood, was approved after the Board suspended the rules to take up the item directly instead of sending to Committee. Annual cost estimated at $32,500, which, while it exceeds the estimated cost for non-solar power, does provide price certainty, and is expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions from this facility by over 43%.
Several grants were accepted, including:
Item 26-0308: $200,000 from Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources for improving the boat launch on the Little Calumet River.
Item 26-0316: $100,000 from the Prairie State Conservation Coalition for acquisition of 42 acres in Glenwood to protect the Deer Creek Floodplain and to advance the Southeast Cook County Land Acquisition Plan.
Several contracts were approved, extended or amended.  The largest were:
Item 16-0311:  Approval of 3 year Contract with Christopher B Burke Engineering, Ltd. For $1,239,837.50 for Phase III Engineering services to oversee rehabilitation of about 1.3 miles of the Des Plaines River Trail, which among other improvements will add a signalized crossing at Strieby Drive and a couple of new connections to additional nearby locations.
Item26-0283: Extension for two years of contracts with 20 outside counsel law firms, with the additional cost not to exceed $2,300,000. This two-year renewal was allowed by the original three-year contract.
Item 26-0318:  Amends previously approved item 25-0296, Resolution granting General Superintendent Authority to Approve and Execute Utility Agreements. Relates to contract with Ameresco approved in 2025 to administer agreements with energy suppliers, and increases amount of this contract from a maximum of $1m to $1.75m to cover items such as electrical transformers needed when the District upgrades buildings. Board member  comments on this item included recognition of significant rate hikes by ComEd, and questions about whether the District could get any accommodations from ComEd to reduce the cost of new transformers and the like.
Also,
Item 26-0307: Proposed Calendar of Events, presented to be Received and Filed. Notable for the several dozen varied programs planned for the period 7.7.26-9.14.26.

​Observer - Deborah Stone

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
May 5, 2026

The commissioners honored the 1,600 annual employees that perform maintenance of the Forest Preserve Districts 70,000 acres.

Mark Templeton, chair of the Conservation and Policy Committee, presented the following statistics:

• 2.2 million individuals participated in on site programs
• 94% increase in community partnerships and collaborative programs from 501 in 2024 to >1000 in 2025
• 18,000 acres in active restoration
• 95,000 volunteer hours representing a conservative estimate of $3.3 million in labor costs

Proposals for members of conservation and policy council include:

• Term limits to maximize input from many local experts
• Members need to attend at least 1 commission’s meeting annually
• Spend time in forest preserves
• Recommendations for disclosures and reclusions

Other Board Action:

• 5 acres are to be added to Orland Grasslands with the purchase of land commonly referred to as 9750 167th street, Orland Hills.  The land includes parts of Marley creek and wetlands. The cost is up to $610,000
• The intergovernmental agreement with Barrington Hills Park District was extended for 5 years with options 3 additional 5 year renewals.  BHPD has been maintaining the trails and equestrian event facilities at Spring Lake Preserve since July 11, 2006.
• Nicor Gas Co. was granted license to locate, operate and maintain approximately 754 feet of existing gas main along the east side of Rand Road. This is required due to rebuilding of Rand Road by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
• The upcoming proposed calendar of events will focus on migratory birds and recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander’s month.  There will also be an event focusing accessibility to nature at Little Red School House on May 30th.

Observer - Margaret Pearson

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
April 14, 2026

Board Action:

• Budgets were approved for the planning and development for the Sandridge Nature Center. Work will begin soon and will be completed within a year. Improvements will be made to the kitchen and upgrade the main entrance for accessibility.
• The Commissioners celebrated and honored the career of retiring Theresa Odom, the Cook County Forest Preserves Chief Police. Theresa Odum was sworn in as a Patrol Officer for the Chicago Police Department and over the next 26 years moved up the ranks from Patrol Officer to Sergeant. In  2021 Odom was appointed to the position of Chief of Police and responsible for a staff of over 120 members of all ranks for sworn and civilian employees, including President Preckwinkle’s Security Detail. Many of the commissioners spoke about her leadership and photos were taken.
• Recognition of Earth Day on April 22 and discussion followed about all of the many activities planned for all ages this month in honor of Earth Day. Activities are planned for almost all of the CCFPs.
• April is National Volunteer Month and the commissioners honored the volunteers and ambassadors at Brookfield Zoo for 54 years of service.
• Authorization was approved for the CCFP to amend its Partnership Agreement with the Chicago Horticultural Society in Glencoe to increase the spending authority under its Partnership Agreement with the Chicago Horticultural Society, which operates the Chicago Botanic Garden. This was needed in order to staff native plant Nursery Manager and Nursery Technician positions through the Garden for an additional year of financial support (not to exceed $191,360) to ensure continuity in nursery operations during peak growing season.

Superintendent Adam Bianchi made the following comments in his report:

• 2025 recorded 78K service hours from volunteers
• Spring is the burning season - 14 days of it.
• This month is the opening day of inland trout fishing. 
• Working on floating island habitats. 
• Chicago conservation leadership corp - provides paid internships and the response has been overwhelming, many more applicants than positions. They hope to expand it.

​Observer - Deborah Halpern

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners Meeting
March 10, 2026 

Board Business and Action:

• Jean M. Franczyk, who led the Chicago Botanic Garden since 2016, retired as of  3/13/26. Also retired last December, Irene Flebbe, former naturalist at Trailside Museum of Natural History after 32 years of service to the Forest Preserves.
• The FP accepted a grant of  $709,500 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ("DCEO") for Conservation Corps programming for the period of  1/1/2026 (retroactive) to 6/30/2027.
• The board agreed to purchase 2 properties: 324 Sutton Road #A, Barrington Hills ~ 5 acres for $520,000 (plus closing costs) and 59 W. Schaumburg Road, Streamwood and 253 Sutton Road, Unincorporated Hanover Township of ~  28 acres for $5,650,000.
• The commissioners also approved ordinances to create a forest preserve near Spring Lake  and another near Polar Creek Land and Water Reserve.
• As part of the superintendent’s reports, Adam Bianchi presented the 2025 Concessions Annual Report. Since approving an ordinance in 2022 the FP wanted to  increase and improve visitor engagement by providing the public with access to concessions, opportunities for recreational activities, amenities and services while also generating revenue to support the mission of the Forest Preserve. Juiced by Shic, a concession provider at the Swallow Cliff facility near Palos Park, received recognition during the meeting. Due to their strong performance, their contract has been extended until 2028. During the comment period a woman representing Juiced by Shic thanked the commissioners for their continued support.
• The annual report of the Resident Watchman was given; it provides  names, job titles, and salaries of employees who occupied property in addition to other program information for fiscal year 2025. The district currently maintains 35 Resident Watchman residences. There are currently seven vacancies, which are anticipated to be filled before the year concludes. The district did not add or remove any properties from the program in 2025. 

Observer - Valerie Krejcie