Woods && Wetlands

Woods & Wetlands

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Vernon Hills NIKE Site

page last updated 10/8/00
Vernon Hills continues to develop their open space, but have set aside very little for wildlife. Some of the land being turned over to the Village at the former Nike Missle AF base could be restored as our most endangered ecosystem: Prairies. This would help draw songbirds and butterflies into the community, and provide a wildlife laboratory for surrounding schools. Instead, the plan shown here calls for roads, parking lots, 35 athletic fields, and 22 tennis courts, to the exclusion of any significant wildlife area. Because all of these areas will be drained, they are surrounded by the usual compliment of detention ponds and lagoons that will offer little for wildlife. To maintain the acres of turf, the fields will be regularly treated with herbacide, pesticide, and then fertilized and irrigated. Water drained from the area will carry these toxics into our streams.
Team sports teach our young adults lessons that stay with them throughout their lives. Could one of those lessons be the importance of balancing our need for health and space with the needs of wildlife?
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Releases 

(newest at the top)
ALERT: Attend Vernon Hills Board Meeting

Tuesday, November 14th Tentative
        7:30 p.m. 
        Vernon Hills Committee of the Whole
        290 Evergreen
        Vernon Hills, IL  60061
Go To Article Message from Trustee Ryg
Kathy suggests that it is too late to rescue any land for wildlife at the Nike site, but that our chances might be better at the nearby Kelly's Day Camp. 
Go To Article Message to Vernon Hills Trustees
This letter from W&W Chair asks that more of the NIKE Site be set aside as prairie for education and wildlife.

Links:

Go To Website Vernon Hills Website. W&W requested that the Nike site plan be posted there at the end of June. Why did the Village take this project to such an advanced stage without featuring the plan on the village website and soliciting input there?
 

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