Planning for Walnut Park
Adjacent to Belmont Prairie Buffer
The Downers Grove Park
District is developing a long-term master plan for its Walnut Park
property. Walnut Park is a 19.6-acre
parcel of land on Walnut
Avenue adjacent to the
Belmont Prairie Buffer in the
northwest corner of Downers Grove, just south of
Ogden Avenue.
The Park District conducted an online Community Survey to obtain
public
input and has posted a summary of responses.
Members of the Heritage
Alliance participated in the survey and are encouraged by the
following Park District statement in a WALNUT PARK PROPERTY Q & A:
5. How
will the possible development of the Walnut Park property impact
the existing Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve and connected prairie
buffer?
Natural area
preservation is at the heart of the District's mission.
The Park District will continue to preserve and protect the Belmont
Prairie and prairie buffer. Any possible development of the Walnut Park
property would carefully avoid any potential hydrological, ecological
or other adverse impacts on the prairie and buffer. Protecting the
buffer zone is required and any development on it must be approved by
the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
The
development of the
Walnut Park property could help the District to improve the health and
accessibility of the buffer and prairie, assist with raising awareness
and provide ways to educate visitors about this treasured natural area
in our community.
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PDHA
Chair Ken Lerner wrote to explain the organization's thinking
about planning
for Walnut Park. Ken's letter emphasizes PDHA's advocacy for protection
of the Belmont
Prairie, a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve, and its dedicated
Buffer. The letter begins as follows:
"Pierce Downer’s Heritage
Alliance appreciates the Park District’s commitment to seeking public
input as part of long-term planning for this property.
"We have a few recommendations as detailed below. The unifying theme is
that in developing plans for its Walnut Ave. holdings, the Park
District balance active and passive recreation priorities.
"Since the Walnut Park area is adjacent to the Belmont Prairie Buffer,
planning and any eventual construction should be conducted with that in
mind, to avoid any hydrological or other adverse impact on the buffer
and prairie."
To
read the letter from Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance in full please
click here.
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COVID-19 and the
Great Outdoors
A visit to a local
park or forest preserve can be a nice break during the COVID-19
emergency. A brisk
walk or run can be a good way to get your steps in. Local outdoor
recreation areas are
generally open for hiking, walking and running, with some exceptions.
Downers Grove Park District
–– The Park District
has announced TIER 3 MITIGATION MEASURES
beginning Friday, November 20.
Information and
updates at dgparks.org/news/together-again
DuPage
County Forest Preserves –– The
preserves are open including parking lots, trails, and off-leash
dog areas. Buildings and restrooms are closed.
At some facilities, the buildings are closed but grounds and
surrounding areas are open: Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center,
Mayslake Peabody Estate, and St. James Farm.
Information
and updates at dupageforest.org/coronavirus
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1846 Blodgett House
Public tours
inside the 1846 Blodgett House started on Saturday, December
14, during last year's Merry and Bright celebration
at the Downers Grove Museum, 831 Maple Avenue.
Thanks
to community-wide support the 1846 Pioneer Blodgett House has come a
long way
during the past decade, well beyond its initial journey from Randall
Street onto the Park District's Museum Campus. Substantial progress
toward completion of the building's interior has been achieved in 2019
as a result of two major grants. The house now looks really great !
Come see the 1846 Blodgett House before long. Starting February 20, 2021 tours are again
being offered on the third Saturday of the month. The tours had been
suspended since
mid-2020. Please consult the
Park District's registration page for information about 1846
Blodgett House tours and other interesting activities.
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Historic
Preservation Activities
The
Village's historic preservation program was revised in 2015,
contributing to an increased interest in landmarking homes and other
structures. Since then twenty-six historic features have been granted
local landmark status in Downers Grove –– nine structures in 2016,
another nine in 2017, four more in 2018 and four historic features in
2019.
The
Village Council unanimously approved
land mark status on December 10, 2019
for the John and Doris Mochel House, 5329 Meadow Lane at the
request of Louise and Peter Trucano. Please click here to learn about this Mid-Century Modern home that was built in 1964.

The
Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on July 9th
for the Robert J. Darnley House, 4721 Highland Avenue, at
the request of Ted and Andrea Anderson. Please click here to learn about this Craftsman
Cottage home that was built circa 1904.
On April 16th landmark
status
for the Village owned Main Street Cemetery, 5158 Main Street, was
unanimously approved by the Village Council
following a request by the
Downers Grove
Historical Society. Learn about this source of civic
pride and identity that was established in 1856 by clicking here.
The
Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on February 5,
2019
for the H. M. Patton House, 5 Jacqueline Drive, at
the request of Judith M. Erickson. Please click here to learn about this English Country
Revival home that was built circa 1927.
Please
click here to
read about the presentation to Friends Of The Edwards
House
of the 2017 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for
Advocacy.
Please
click here for a complete listing of the 28 historic features that have
been
granted
local landmark status in Downers Grove.
* * * * *
Betty Cheever
& Wally Brown Honored
* * * * *
Heritage
Alliance Mission Statement
Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance
is committed to sound and sustainable environmental practices;
protection and appreciation of our community's outstanding natural
features, such as Lyman Woods and Belmont Prairie; and preservation of
significant cultural traditions, including the rich architectural
heritage of Downers Grove.
The Alliance works to promote appreciation, protection and enhancement
of our community's natural and cultural heritage through education,
advocacy, stewardship and community outreach.
Last
updated 3/4/2021
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Village
Council Meeting
Tuesday,
March 9, 2021
Meeting
Agenda
7:00 PM, Council Chambers
Village
Hall
Downers Grove, IL 60515
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* * *
PDHA
Virtual Meeting
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Remote Participation Only
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* * *
Absent Friends
Jane Amorosi 1923-2021
Pierce
Downer's Heritage Alliance n otes with regret
the passing of one of our founding
directors, Jane Amorosi. Jane was always a strong advocate for
preservation of
open space. We are grateful to Jane for her role in
safeguarding Lyman Woods as a publicly-owned Forest Preserve, a
beautiful and high-quality natural area in Downers Grove. The
Lyman
Woods
Preserve today serves as a recreational and nature-education
destination for the
entire region. Please click here to read Jane's obituary.
We also gratefully remember several other past champions of our
community's natural heritage.
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