Assistant Majority Leader Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) announced this week that Glenview Park District will receive a $750,000 state Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant to purchase additional acreage for the historic landmark The Grove in Glenview.  

“We’re fortunate to have The Grove and this opportunity for Glenview Park District to expand this beautiful natural area is an investment in the future for our state and community,” Schoenberg said. “I am pleased our request for this grant was approved and I thank Grove supporters, the Glenview Park District Board and Park District Director Chuck Balling for actively pursuing these critical funds.”

The grant is funded by federal dollars from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It will be matched by Glenview Park District funds to acquire approximately 10 acres of unspoiled land adjacent to the Grove Historic Landmark that was part of the original Grove property. The land includes a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve parcel, and ties in to the ground and surface water and wetland system on the Grove land.

The Grove, designated as a Historic Landmark in 1976, is a 123-acre tract once owned by early Glenview-area settlers, the Kennicott family. The preservation and reacquisition of land around the Grove began by a citizen support group known as the Save the Grove Committee, which became the Grove Heritage Association. The property features restored and recreated buildings, a nature center and many Kennicott artifacts and papers. It welcomes nearly 200,000 visitors each year.

“We are very fortunate to have local legislators who really care about preserving open space and high quality natural areas for future generations to enjoy,” Director Balling said. “This site has national and state recognition; it has had the unwavering support of the Grove Heritage Association who raised several million dollars over the years to support land acquisition projects and programs at the Grove.” 

“This is an excellent use of private and public matching funds and a great example of the Park District, the NSSRA, private citizens and our state legislators working together  to achieve something that would be impossible without a great team,” said Glenview resident Henrietta Saunders. “Good common sense tells us it is smart to work together to maximize resources as with the new field house and the wetlands. Science tells us that it is cheaper to preserve great wetlands like those near the Grove than it is to lose the green infrastructure and its benefits."

Balling added that future plans for the property include a trail to connect to an existing trail system and will be included in the hundreds of school site visits each year to The Grove, an outdoor nature museum.