Preserve Lakewood Preserve
www.preservelakewood.net

News and Developments

January 25, 2005 - The LCFPD public information meeting about the Lakewood Forest Preserve

Hundreds of concerned residents attended the informational meeting and filled the room at the Lake County Museum. There were various displays set up by the Forest Preserve District showing the current conditions and what the proposed plan is for the south side of Ivanhoe road..

Many folks made the rounds of the displays and were able to talk to the members of the Forest Preserve board and staff. The majority of people were overheard to be against the proposed changes for reasons including: the effects on the large diversity of wildlife and habitat and the reduction of quality trails. Another concern is congestion of people and vehicles. One comment was even overheard that the Lake County Forest Preserve District was becoming the "Lake County Parks and Recreation" District. Written statements were left by many people, a majority of whom stayed the entire hour and a half. There were so many people in fact that the parking lots were overflowing.

Here neighbors and concerned citizens pack the room looking at the displays and expressing their concern to the staff.

Mike Fenelon, one of the designers of the LCFPD plan, explains some points to neighbors of the Forest Preserve.

Citizens of all ages check out the displays.

This little gentleman writes his comments for the Forest Preserve District:
No Picnic shelters south of Ivanhoe!

A new Master Plan Advisory Committee will coordinate additional public input and recommendations about future plans for Lakewood.

The Master Plan Advisory Committee will include citizens representing the wide variety of ways in which people use and enjoy Lakewood. The Committee will take into account the concerns and desires of preserve visitors and the surrounding community, and ensure that our natural resources are "protected and restored.”

Nominations may be submitted by e-mail to the attention of Andy Kimmel, Director of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, at akimmel@co.lake.il.us by Friday, February 4, 2005.

Comments concerning the plan can be E-mailed to the Forest Preserve Districts Director of Planning, Conservation and Development, Mike Fenelon, at mfenelon@co.lake.il.us. Both original comments and any new comments that are submitted will become part of the public input for the planning process that will be reviewed by the Master Plan Advisory Committee and Lake County Forest Preserve Board Committees.

The LCFPD plan, shown here, makes a Reserved Picnic area out of what is a quiet field and the equestrian/hiker trails, and if you note - also bars the equestrians from the small lakes, some of the most lovely areas.

The area in green below the diagonal line stops being a field for agriculture and wildlife and becomes 8 picnic shelters, each holding hundreds of people. The small lakes are barred to the horse riders and what was once a quiet and pastoral setting becomes a place of raucous activity, over use, and generates garbage and disturbs wildlife.

In early December, 2004, a group of concerned citizens met in opposition to this land-grab.
 
On short notice over 35 people met to organize the Preserve Lakewood organization.
Notes from the organizational meeting of December 4th, 2004 (in PDF format)

Tel: 847.438.0960 - E-mail: preservelakewood@aol.com - www.preservelakewood.net
775 Burr Oak Dr. - Lake Zurich, IL 60047

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