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

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
May 6, 2025 at the Botanic Garden

​Items of Interest:

• The Commissioners approved the purchase of 37.04 Acres at 20278 Cottage Grove Ave, Glenwood, to create a Forest preserve near Sweet Woods, with closing costs of $2,970,000.00.
• The Botanic Garden and the Zoo get capital Improvement monies from the Referendum.  The Botanic Garden is growing and providing seed and plugs for restoration sites.
• The Report of the Finance committee meeting showed that in Corporate Fund analysis, Non-tax revenue was up $33.5M and expenditures were down.  
• The Real Estate Committee agreement was approved by the Commissioners with New Trier High School for access drive and underground sewer line (total .23 Acres) In exchange for payment of license fees and use of School District parking for Forest Preserves patrons and permittees.
• In the Public Testimony time, Kevin Allen Ake from the Elk Grove Historical Association used his 3 minutes to request that they could get permission to place cameras at the Elk Pasture so that people can see the Elk, to educate the people, as the Elk mostly hide in the woods.  The Association has the monies.  Just need permission.  President Preckwinkle referred that to staff to contact Mr Ake.  

​Observer - Barbara Palmer

Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC)
Board of Commissioners Meeting 
March 11, 2025

The Board approved purchase of 2 parcels of land (around 74 acres) near the Paul Douglas Preserve in South Barrington for $3,5000,000.00 plus closing costs. The land acquisition advances the goals of the FPDCC Next Century Conservation Plan.

The Board authorized a partnership agreement with Audubon Great Lakes, Chicago Illinois to receive a $238,494.24 grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chi-Cal River Program to support a second phase of restoration, outreach and engagement at Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh Nature Preserve and Powderhorn North Forest Preserve in southeast Cook County. 

The Board approved an intergovernmental agreement to expand Conservation Corps programming with a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the   amount of  $344,345.00 to run through 6/30/2027 which will support the recruitment, hiring, and employment of at least forty-five (45) additional participants of the Forest Preserves’ Forest Preserve Experience, Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps, and Audubon Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Internship programs.

The Board approved a request to partner with the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (“CAMBr”), Bartlett, Illinois that authorizes the Forest Preserves to continue a twenty plus (20+) year partnership with CAMBr to clear, manage and maintain multi-use natural surface single track trails in the Palos and Paul Douglas preserves, and other approved areas to be used generally by cyclists.

During public comments Henrietta Saunders, a member of the Conservation and Policy Council, voiced her support for The Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ grant award to support the Conservation Corps, the proposed acquisition of an additional 74 acres near the Paul Douglas Preserve in South Barrington and FP sponsorship of the biennial Wild Things Conference held March 1.

Observer: Valerie Krejcie