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2017 Belmont
Prairie Wildflower Walk
This
year volunteer naturalist Lance Herning will
lead a wildflower walk in the Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve on
Saturday, August 26.
 Friends Of The Edwards House Wins Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award Ken
Lerner recently received a letter from Bonnie McDonald, President of
Landmarks Illinois, informing us that Friends Of The Edwards House
(FOEH) has been chosen to receive the 2017 Richard H. Driehaus
Foundation Preservation Award for Project of the Year for
Advocacy. This is a significant honor for the group, as well as for the
Village of Downers Grove.
President McDonald's letter states, in part, "Our annual awards program honors innovative preservation projects, dedicated organizations, and uplifting success stories from across the state. Congratulations for standing out as a strong nomination in what was a very competitive pool of nominees. ... Landmarks Illinois wishes to thank you for demonstrating a commitment and for helping to protect architectural resources in Illinois." Commenting on behalf of the group Rich Kulovany, FOEH Chair, said, "In addition to our team, there are many people to thank, but I would like to start by thanking Ken for nominating us (two years in a row) and Mayor Martin Tully, State Representative David Olsen and Architect Douglas Gilbert for writing endorsements. Most importantly, the accomplishments we have achieved in this short time could not have been possible without the leadership and wonderful cooperation from the Village of Downers Grove." DuPage Monarch Project  The DuPage Monarch
Project
is a group of local organizations working together to provide education
about monarchs and increase the amount of suitable monarch habitat
throughout DuPage County. DuPage Monarch Project is asking mayors and
village boards to formally resolve to make their communities more
monarch friendly.
Betty Cheever & Wally Brown Honored Many organizations and individuals joined forces to honor Betty M. Cheever and Wallace H. (Wally) Brown 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. Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance was joined by the Grove Foundation for Recreation, The Conservation Foundation, the League of Women Voters of Downers Grove, Woodridge, & Lisle, and the Downers Grove Downtown Management Corporation, together with some dozen individuals, in supporting these tribute benches to honor the public service of Wally Brown and Betty Cheever. The Lyman Woods Preserve owes much to the leadership of these two outstanding individuals. Mayor Cheever championed the 1982 tripartite purchase of Lyman Woods from George Williams College by the Village of Downers Grove, the Downers Grove Park District and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. In 1996, Commissioner Brown led the campaign for additional Forest Preserve District funds to supplement referendum-voter-approved Park District bond funding for purchase of the heavily wooded site at the south-east corner of Highland Avenue and 31st Street. Wally Brown also played a key role in achieving a million dollar Illinois State grant for the Lyman Woods Interpretive Center. Both Betty and Wally have held many public service positions in our community over the years. Please click here to see pictures and learn more about the benches that honor Betty Cheever and Wally Brown. * * *
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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 historic structures.
The Village Council unanimously approved landmark  status for The Frank Rodgers
House, 5325 Fairmount Avenue on June 13th. Please
click here to read the information about this bungalow home
constructed
in 1926, now owned by Lawrence and Gloria Gassen.The Village  Council unanimously approved landmark status for The McDougall
House, 4709 Linscott Avenue, on May
16th. Please
click here to read the information provided by the current owner, Mary
Lou Lockerby, about the historic significance of her home, constructed
in 1894. The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for two buildings on March 21st. Recognition of The Chilvers-Winter House, 484  9 Middaugh Avenue, had been proposed by its owners Patrick &
Chris Sexton. Fairview Train Station, which is owned by the Village, was also designated as a local historic landmark on March 21st. The Village Council unanimou  sly approved landmark status for The Pierce Downer
House on February 14th. Please
click here to read the information provided by the current owners,
Arthur
and Judith Frigo, about the historic significance of their home, which
dates from the 1840's. Please click here for a complete listing of the 16 buildings that have been granted local landmark status in Downers Grove. * * * * * Heritage
Alliance Mission
Pierce
Downer's
Heritage Alliance is dedicated to preserving the
natural and cultural heritage of Downers Grove. In the past, we have
maintained sharp focus on the natural heritage within our community.
Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance has been instrumental in the
preservation and protection of Lyman Woods, and Belmont Prairie, which
continue as on-going projects.
We
are now also committed to the preservation
of cultural aspects of Downers Grove, including its rich
architectural heritage. We work to accomplish our mission through
education as well as community outreach.
* * * * *
Can you find this
house
in Downers Grove and why is it important?
(Click the image for the answer)  Last updated 8/15/2017 |
 
Village
Council Meeting
* * * * *Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Meeting Agenda 7:00 pm, Council Chamber Village Hall 801 Burlington Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60515 * * * * *
PDHA Meeting Tuesday August 29, 2017 7:00 pm, Room 307, Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515 * * * * * Click here to read our 2017 Spring Newsletter * * * * * Please consider a charitable donation to support educational activities of Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance. Click here to see
Ashley Wurth's slides about Urban Coyotes from our 2016 Annual Meeting. * * * * * Click here to see Michael Lambert's slides on Historic Preservation in Geneva, IL from our 2015 Annual Meeting. * * * * * Click here to learn about beekeeping in Lyman Woods. * * * * * * * * * * Click here to learn more about other local historic preservation activities in Downers Grove. * * * * * Downers Grove Township's Monthly Electronic Recycling Is Continuing in 2017 AVA
E-Recycling is continuing again this year its electronics recycling
program in
cooperation with Downers Grove Township Highway Department.
Audio or video cassettes, as well as CD’s, are no longer accepted and all TV’s need to have a prepaid coupon from AVA. Please click here to learn more about the rules for recycling TV's. The next event is scheduled for March 18th, and runs from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Highway Garage, 318 Quincy Street, Westmont IL 60559. Other events will follow on the third Saturday of each month at the same time and location, unless that date falls on a holiday weekend. As always the events close promptly at noon and electronics can only be dropped off on event dates. Drop offs outside of designated hours are not allowed. For further information, please call Downers Grove Township Highway Department at (630) 719-6625. |