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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:
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. * * * * *
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 * * * * *
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. * * * * *
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 Many
organizations and individuals joined forces to honor Betty M. Cheever
(1928 - 2021) and Wallace H. (Wally) Brown
(1928 - 2019) with
tribute benches in Lyman Woods
Preserve. A celebration of Betty Cheever's and Wally Brown's community
leadership took place on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the Lyman Woods
Interpretative Center. Please click
here to learn more about this event and the tribute benches honoring
Betty Cheever and Wally Brown.
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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 * * * * * 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. Betty Cheever 1928-2021
Nan Newlon 1959-2021 John Banaszak 1941-2020 Wally Brown 1928-2019 Al Rouffa 1919-2017 Bill Runyon 1929-2009 Rita Martin 1927-2007 * *
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Click
here to
read
our
2020 Fall Newsletter * * * * * Click here to read our 2020 Spring Newsletter * * * * * Please consider a charitable donation to support educational activities of Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance. |