The Chicago Region is blessed with a rich tapestry of open and green spaces — parks and forest preserves and other protected natural areas — that encompass more than 250,000 acres. These mostly public lands enrich our quality of life and provide outdoor recreation areas for citizens to relax, unplug, and enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of nature.
These lands need to be taken care of and stewarded for present and future generations. We must continue to expand and maintain these natural lands and protect this public investment we’ve already made in our homes and in our communities. The public has consistently voted to support the expansion of forest preserves and other public lands. In fact, over the past 25 years, voters in the region have supported dozens of conservation ballot measures totaling more than $2 billion to preserve and protect 40,000 acres of land and improve our quality of life.
This General Election on November 5, 2024, voters again will be asked to support forest preserves in DuPage and Kane counties. Each forest preserve district will ask for a small levy increase to preserve more land, maintain and restore existing forest preserves, and add recreational amenities, such as trails, and improve public access. Since the pandemic, many forest preserves have nearly doubled their attendance as people continue to discover the many benefits forest preserves provide to our lives and our communities.
If approved by the voters on November 5th, the forest preserves will be better able to improve air and water quality, purchase land and restore and create more wildlife habitat, improve flood control, expand public safety, and create more places where children can experience and enjoy the wonders of nature.
The Conservation Foundation will be supporting and working to pass each of these referenda in DuPage and Kane counties, and we ask that you vote YES and get involved. With land prices skyrocketing and the amount of natural lands dwindling, we must act now to preserve our last remaining open spaces for our children and our grandchildren before they are lost to development.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Resources:
- Learn more about the DuPage Forest Preserve referendum here.
- Learn how you can get involved in helping to pass the DuPage referendum here.
- Donate to the DuPage Forest Preserve referendum here.
- View the DuPage Neighbors for Open Space, Clean Water and Clean Air Facebook page here.
- View the DuPage Neighbors for Open Space, Clean Water and Clean Air Instagram page here.
- Access the DuPage County Campaign Toolkit here.
Events:
- DuPage Referendum Virtual Open House on Tuesday, October 8th
- DuPage Referendum Virtual Open House on Wednesday, October 23rd
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County Resources:
- Learn more about the Kane Forest Preserve referendum here.
- Learn how you can get involved in helping to pass the Kane referendum here.
- Donate to the Kane Forest Preserve referendum here.
- View the Kane Neighbors for Open Space, Clean Water, & Clean Air Facebook page here.
- View the Kane Neighbors for Open Space, Clean Water and Clean Air Instagram page here.
- Access the Kane County Campaign Toolkit here.
Events:
- Kane Referendum Open House on Tuesday, September 24th at Prisco Community Center
- Kane Referendum Virtual Open House on Thursday, October 17th
