The plan devised by the Glenview Village Board leaves only 14 acres of native prairie within its development plans for the property, which it has acquired from the U.S. Navy. The Village intends to sell the remaining 480 acres for mixed-use development.
While the current plan does preserve the 14 acres of the highest quality ecosystem remaining at the site, it ignores the need for a large buffer zone around such an area. Mixed-use sites, which include residential, retail and industrial uses, are notoriously bad neighbors for natural areas. Lots of people and disturbance undermine the quality of the eco-system, especially for grassland nesting birds, which require fairly large breeding and feeding areas. For example, the endangered Upland Sandpiper has bred at the site, and needs at least 100 acres per pair to reproduce and thrive. Unless the Glenview Board reconsiders, you will probably never hear it's song at the site again.
Birds and other inhabitants of any grassland ecosystem need the ``structure'' of grasses to survive and will use buffer areas with less high quality vegetation. All the rest of the foodchain that birds depend on - from spiders to voles to snakes to seed plants - have a greater chance of survival in a larger area. Sedge Wrens, Bobolinks, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows and Short-eared Owls will virtually vanish from northern Cook County if this property is not preserved.
The Village Board of Glenview says it can't afford to preserve all 100 acres of grassland. However, Glenview is getting this land, our land, from the federal government for FREE. With 480 of acres of this prime real estate for sale around the grassland site, their statement seems disingenuous. For the good of the public, of wildlife, and for the sheer need for open space in the area, the Village of Glenview should strive to preserve 100 natural acres. The money will be well-spent!
Write to Village Board President Nancy Firfer asking that they set aside
the entire 100 acres of grasslands around the protected wetlands.
Finally, if you can, ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING and express your support
for preserving 100 ACRES OF GRASSLANDS!
Click
here to visit the Glenview Prairie
Preservation Project for more detailed information, and ongoing updates.
You
can also write to one or all of the Village trustees
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