State Grant To Fund Improvements At The Hollows In Cary

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The McHenry County Conservation District was awarded a $200,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Program grant, which will help fund improvements and trail enhancements at The Hollows Conservation Area in Cary.

The Hollows Conservation Area opened to the public in 1987 and is one of the conservation district’s most popular sites, featuring hiking, camping, paddling, picnicking and fishing amenities.

Details of the outdoor recreation improvements include replacing a 1-mile wood chip and gravel path with an accessible paved trail around the 22-acre Lake Atwood, as well as adding a second fishing pier, interpretive signage, solar lights to facilitate evening cross country ski events, and replacing the main entrance sign, according to a news release.

Last week, the state announced the grant amount awarded to the conservation district as well as a total of $60 million in other grants doled out to 118 park and recreation agencies throughout Illinois.

Additional improvements at the Hollows include the installation of a new ADA canoe and kayak launch on Lake Atwood, which will be made possible by an $80,000 Boat Access Area Development grant recently awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

“These grants provide a tremendous opportunity to allow access for all residents to enjoy the site,
attract new visitors, and enhance the area with minimal impact on the natural resources,” said
William Cook McHenry County Conservation District Board President.

Design of the improvements has begun and both grant projects are expected to be completed by spring of 2025.

The OSLAD grants represent the largest round awarded in the 36-year history of the program, which was designed to help communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. In addition, 100 percent of eligible projects received OSLAD grants, according to the news release.