Grant Awarded To Continue Quarry Restoration

LEMONT, IL — A grant has been awarded to continue the restoration work in the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area in Lemont. Through the CITGO Caring for Our Coast initiative, a program designed to boost ecological conservation, restoration and education, The Conservation Foundation has been awarded the grant, according to a release.

In partnership with TCF and the village of Lemont, the CITGO Lemont Refinery has been funding semiannual projects and working alongside local volunteers in the HQRA since the fall of 2014. According to CITGO, it has helped in removing invasive plant species and brush, and harvesting native species' seeds for replanting.

According to Scott LaMorte, senior advancement officer at TCF, the transformation of the HQRA, in just four years, has been remarkable.

"During a community workday last year, my group was assigned to clear a section near the picnic grove. After cutting out some of the weedy shrubs, we uncovered a pond that hadn't been seen in decades! The 'before' and 'after' photos are just incredible," LaMorte said in a release.

Dennis Willig, Vice President and General Manager of the CITGO Lemont Refinery, describes the HQRA project as neighbors serving neighbors.

"We are proud to partner with the local community, because not only are natural resources being preserved, but residents will be able to enjoy the benefits of this outdoor recreational space for years to come," Willig said in a release.

Photo provided by CITGO Lemont Refinery.