Forest Preserve Of Will County Acquires 105 Acres Near Messenger Woods

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Will County has acquired over 100 acres of land near Messenger Woods Nature Preserve in Homer Glen, the preserve shared on its Facebook page.

"Thanks to our latest acquisition, more than 100 acres of open space is now preserved," the preserve said.

The acquisition of 105.7733 acres took place on Friday. The new land acquisition contains remnant woodlands and agricultural land that buffers the existing nature preserve in Homer Glen, according to the preserve.

The acquisition cost $4.18 million, and was funded through a $50 million general obligation bond approved in 2024, the preserve said. The acquisition is part of the 2025–2030 Capital Improvement Program.

The Capital Improvement Plan allocates $25 million to land preservation, $12 million to regional and local trail connections and new access areas, and $13 million to habitat restoration, according to the preserve.