Will County OKs land buy in Crete Township
Allows for new access point to Plum Valley Ravines preserve
The Plum Valley Ravines preserve on the far east end of Will County features more than 500 plant species, a variety of reptiles and birds among other wildlife and a diversity of habitats, including forest, prairie and wetlands areas, according to the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
But it doesn’t have easy way for nature fans to access those features.
That should change after Will County Forest Preserve commissioners approved the purchase of 45 acres adjacent to the preserve.
The district is interested in buying the land for a public access point off Torrence Avenue and other improvements to the preserve. Currently, there is no public access point to the 825-acre preserve situated south of Steger Road and east of 394 in Crete Township.
“This opens public access,” Commissioner Judy Ogalla, RMonee, said. “That way people could actually get to the forest preserve areas.”
Ogalla described the ravines as “gorgeous” and a unique feature of the area’s landscape.
Commissioners agreed to move forward on purchase of the 45 acres for a total of $283,500. A closing date has not yet been set and a district memo notes the district had previously sought to acquire the property but hit an impasse during those negotiations.
A district spokeswoman noted the land acquisition also would help preserve the area around Plum Creek.
“The Plum Creek watershed is important to protect,” Will County Forest Preserve District spokeswoman Cindy Cain said, adding that much of the preservation work the district does is along creek routes and watersheds.
In May, the district commissioners approved the purchase of Longwood Country Club, also adjacent to the Plum Valley Ravines. The sale of the 200-acre golf course has not yet been finalized, but commissioners approved $1.44 million to buy the property, according to a district memo.
Cain noted the district has yet to close on both deals and that improvements to the property, including the public access point, are not yet scheduled to be completed and would be done at some point in the future.