• Press Release - 04/19/2012 •

New Name for Liberty Prairie Conservancy Reflects Growth in Services and Scope

(Grayslake, IL) To better reflect its services and scope, Lake County’s fast-growing non-profit conservation organization has changed its name from Liberty Prairie Conservancy to Conserve Lake County. The shift was recently celebrated by over 200 members at its annual meeting in Libertyville. Founded in 1995 to serve conservation needs in the Liberty Prairie Reserve area of central Lake County, the member-supported group expanded in 2005 to provide services throughout the county for open space preservation, land stewardship and conservation outreach.

• Press Release - 01/26/2012 •

New Dokum Mskoda Nature Preserve Builds on Countywide Vision

(Grayslake, IL) A meadow so pristine it suggests an image of Lake County prior to European settlement was recently preserved by a Waukegan condominium association with critical help from the Liberty Prairie Conservancy. This month's purchase of a parcel of land by the Liberty Prairie Conservancy, Lake County's non-profit land conservation group, paved the way for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to formally dedicate the Fields of Cambridge Condominium Association's adjacent 93-acre Dokum Mskoda Nature Preserve as the newest member of the state's collection of most prized natural areas. The move conveys significant protection benefits to the property.

• Press Release - 10/04/2011 •

Liberty Prairie Conservancy Launches Lake County Sustainable Landscaping Program

The Liberty Prairie Conservancy today launched Lake County’s new sustainable landscaping program by certifying the eco-friendly yard of Louise Wood and Dennis Leu of Green Oaks. Through the new Conservation@Home program, homeowners and business owners can receive free one-on-one property consultations to get advice and resources on lawn and garden practices that support clean water, rich soil and resilient ecosystems. Over 110 property owners have already signed up for the consultations and the program’s launch opens the door for those to begin. The Liberty Prairie Conservancy expects to visit dozens of properties within the next month.

• Press Release - 05/10/2011 •

Grant Awarded for Conservation@Home Program

The Grand Victoria Foundation recently awarded a $260,000 grant to the nonprofit Liberty Prairie Conservancy to support ecologically friendly lawn and garden practices in Lake County. With the richest biodiversity in the state and a strong tradition of support for preservation of wildlife habitat and land and water resources, Lake County residents will now gain access to the distinguished and popular Conservation@Home program which features free yard consultations, multi-faceted support and certification of qualifying properties. Preparation for the program's autumn launch is underway. A free presentation on the topic is already available for groups, and tours of exemplary private yards are scheduled for this summer.

• Press Release - 05/07/2010 •

30 Acres Saved from Development

A 30-acre Gurnee property supporting an oak-hickory woodland will soon receive permanent open space protection through its sale to the Lake County Forest Preserve District by the Getz family’s Globe Corporation. The Liberty Prairie Conservancy, a non-profit land conservation group, facilitated the move which was approved yesterday by the Lake County Forest Preserve Land Acquisition and Finance Committees. The full Board of Commissioners will consider the transaction at their meeting Tuesday, May 11.

• Press Release - 03/02/2011 •

Open Space Vision Meets First Year Goal

Lake County’s alliance of open space advocates reached its first-year goal in the drive to preserve 1,000 acres annually for the next 20 years. In 2010, protected open space in Lake County grew by 1,612 acres, with the Lake County Forest Preserve District purchasing 1,588 acres and the Village of Lake Bluff protecting 24 acres. The new lands provide valuable wildlife habitat, trail connections and flood protection. Non-profit conservation groups helped to make two of the 33 transactions possible.