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Volunteers, county and a preservation foundation highlight funding push for local preserves
Summary
Volunteers and a county preservation representative told the Board of Trustees the Preservation Foundation has raised funds and established a permanent endowment to support maintenance of local preserves; presenters cited more than $1 million in endowments and about $350,000 raised toward a permanent fund for one preserve of roughly 687 acres.
Volunteer stewards and a county preservation representative told the Blake Harrington Board of Trustees on Jan. 13 that local restoration work and a new endowment aim to sustain recently restored preserves. Rebecca, introduced as being "from Lake County Corporate Preserve," and local volunteers described a multi-year effort to remove invasive shrubs, re-seed native plants and maintain trails.
"We have raised about $350,000 so far," one presenter said of funds directed to a permanent revenue source for ongoing care. The speakers also said the preservation foundation, described in the meeting as a 501(c)(3), has received more than $1,000,000 in endowments overall to support the county'preserve network.
The presenters gave a size example: one preserve was described as roughly 687 acres, larger than the cited 500-acre average for other sites. Volunteers warned that without ongoing maintenance — (recurrent prescribed burns, invasive control and re-seeding) restored habitats can revert to a degraded state.
Board members praised the volunteers and emphasized the value of open space to the village; the chair thanked the group for "the work that you guys have done" and encouraged ongoing coordination between the foundation and village staff. No formal funding action or vote was recorded in the provided transcript segments.
Next steps identified in the discussion included continued volunteer recruitment and coordination with the preservation foundation for endowment stewardship and long-term maintenance planning. The presenters asked the board and staff to stay engaged as restoration and stewardship projects proceed.
