Richard Duchossois’ land to be protected as nature preserve

A large piece of land in northern Illinois will remain untouched by real estate developers and instead be preserved as a protected open space and wildlife corridor.

Barrington-based Citizens for Conservation is buying the 246.5-acre Hill ‘N Dale Farm South in the northwest Chicago suburb from The Duchossois Group, the Daily Herald reported. The land, owned by the family of horse racing mogul Richard Duchossois, is considered one of the most significant and desirable tracts of open space in the northern half of the state.

The Duchossois family worked closely with CFC to arrange the sale of the land.

The planned restoration will preserve the land as a habitat for native plantlife, aquatic communities, grassland birds and endangered species. The property, which will be called Hill ‘N Dale Preserve, will have a wildlife corridor that connects to the 4,000-acre Spring Creek Forest Preserve directly south.

CFC is having the site evaluated to create a multiyear ecological management plan for the preserve. The public will be able to visit the preserve through sponsored CFC activities.

The estimated total cost of buying and restoring the land is $10 million. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation granted $4.9 million for the project, the largest grant awarded for a single-parcel purchase. The organization has raised $9.5 million for the project so far.

The Hill ‘N Dale Preserve will become CFC’s largest. The organization has 13 others around the state.

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