Libertyville Green Projects Get ComEd, Openlands Grants

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Libertyville has received two grants from ComEd and Openlands as part of the annual ComEd Green Region Program.

The one-time grants of up to $10,000, which were awarded to 23 organizations or municipalities throughout Illinois, are meant to support and improve natural areas in northern Illinois, including those that focus on enhancing pollinator habitats and protecting species like butterflies and bees, according to a news release.

The projects that will be supported in Libertyville include:

• The Kildare Restoration Project: This project will restore a nine-acre parcel into a functioning, resilient and publicly accessible native environment through the planting of native vegetation. This will enhance the wetlands along Bull Creek and improve overall water quality.
• Native Garden Educational Signage (Libertyville): This project will install educational signage for the Village of Libertyville Native Garden, further connecting the community to nature.

"ComEd has a long history of supporting organizations and communities in improving climate resiliency and protecting pollinators and green spaces in Illinois," said Gil Quiniones, CEO of ComEd, in a statement announcing the grants. "Partnering with Openlands for the last 10 years has helped fuel community-driven sustainability projects that enhance parks, protect vulnerable habitats and improve quality of life throughout our region. We are proud to be surrounded by communities and partners who are committed to cultivating a greener future for Illinois."

Now in its tenth year, ComEd and Openlands' Green Region Grant program has awarded more than $1.9 million to communities and organizations in northern Illinois. This funding has supported the development of more than 82,000 feet of ADA-accessible trails, led to the planting of more than 38,000 trees and improved more than 1,400 acres of land, according to a news release.

ComEd funds the program, and Openlands, one of the oldest metropolitan environmental conservation organizations in the nation, administers the grants to local communities and organizations.

Other Lake County projects to receive funding through this year's grant program include:

• Flint Creek Restoration in Lake Barrington: This project will extend a streambank restoration across two areas of the Flint Creek Savanna. Native plants will replace non-native species to improve stabilization, pollinator habitats and water quality.
• Goetz Wetland Rehabilitation and Pollinator Enhancement in Lake Bluff: This project will rehabilitate pivotal wetland habitats by eradicating non-native species and installing wetland, emergent and woodland species—increasing the diversity of native species that support pollinators and migratory birds.
• Historic Downtown Long Grove Covered Bridge Conservancy and Park in Long Grove: This project will transform an undeveloped open space into an outdoor sanctuary for native plants, shrubs, flowers and insects. This will enhance pollination and house a new walking trail, enabling visitors to enjoy the new space.

More information on the ComEd Green Region Program can be found here.