Forest Preserve completes first major land purchase under new capital plan
This map shows the location of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s recently acquired parcel of land in Custer Township. The 241-acquisition is part of the District’s 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program. (Forest Preserve illustration)
The Forest Preserve District of Will County has completed its first major land acquisition under its 2025–2030 Capital Improvement Program.
The 241-acre purchase in Custer Township finalized June 13 brings the District’s total land holdings to 23,449 acres.
Located near Coal City Road and Route 53, the newly acquired parcel is near two state-owned preserves, Hitts Siding Prairie Nature Preserve and Wilmington Shrub Prairie, and three Forest Preserve properties. The acquisition is part of a broader ecological region known for its rare sandy soils and rare plant and animal communities.
“This addition helps protect the rare sand communities of the Braidwood Dunes, Sand Ridge Savanna and Kankakee Sands Preserve complex and creates future possibilities for public fishing and recreation in Wilmington,” said Cori Crawford, the Forest Preserve’s real estate and data supervisor in a press release.
“It’s a true win for both conservation and the community.”
The $2.8 million acquisition was funded through a $50 million general obligation bond issue approved by the Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners in 2024. Of that total, $25 million is dedicated to land preservation, $12 million to regional and local trail connections and new access areas, and $13 million to habitat restoration.
The land closes a key gap between local, state and federal open space holdings, contributing to a corridor of more than 8,200 acres of ecologically significant habitat that includes private hunting and fishing clubs, the Des Plaines River Conservation Area, Goose Lake Prairie Nature Preserve in nearby Grundy County and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
The property also has strong recreational potential, with possible uses including hiking, fishing, kayaking and picnicking, as well as future access to equestrian and group camping. Planning will begin soon, with a land use plan and conceptual master plan expected by 2030.
“With these foundational plans in place, the Forest Preserve will be well-positioned to pursue external funding opportunities – such as the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program or other grant sources – to support the phased development of the preserve,” said Colleen Novander, the Forest Preserve’s director of planning and land preservation, in the release.
The District also recently acquired a 1.18-acre parcel for $23,353 at Wolf Road and Route 30 in Mokena, expanding Hickory Creek Preserve. The addition protects and buffers wooded floodplain and wetland habitat along a major tributary of Hickory Creek.
In addition to providing public access and habitat protection, the Forest Preserve’s open space contributes to flood control, carbon storage, wildlife habitat and the survival of threatened and endangered species.
Because previous bond debt was paid off before the current Capital Improvement Program was launched, the Forest Preserve property tax rate will decrease about 27% this year, reducing the amount Will County residents pay for Forest Preserve services.