Give Back to Nature

Release Date: Oct. 2, 2008

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., October 2, 2008— Preserving and protecting our natural areas is a full-time job with the 650 acres and 44 parks that the Park District of Highland Park manages. Volunteers are needed on a regular basis to help accomplish different tasks including cutting invasive brush such as buckthorn, collecting seeds of native plants and participating in prescribed burns in prairies and woodlands. These opportunities allow you to give back, appreciate and learn about the beautiful natural areas that we have in Highland Park.

On Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11 from 9:00 a.m. till noon, Natural Areas Coordinator Rebecca Grill and volunteers will work at Foley’s Pond, planting a “magic hedge” of native shrubs and small trees in order to improve habitat for migratory birds and those that nest at Foley’s Pond. Shrubs such as Witchhazel, Hazelnut, American Plum and Nannyberry provide shelter and food for such long distance travelers as warblers, thrushes and vireos. This project was funded through a grant program supported by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in support of Chicago Wilderness. USFWS and USFS grants or federal monies are administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

Come at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10 to learn about fall migration from Donald Dann, president of the Bird Conservation Network. Foley’s Pond is located at 1268 McDaniels Avenue (McDaniels Avenue just south of Bob-O-Link Road). For more information about Natural Area Workdays please visit our website, www.pdhp.org, or call 847.681.2189.

About the Park District of Highland Park
The Park District of Highland Park, founded in 1909, operates and manages over 600 acres of land in 44 park areas, and offers approximately 2,800 recreation and seasonal programs.  Facilities include an indoor ice arena, indoor tennis and racquetball complex, two recreation centers, a nature center, an 18-hole golf course, driving range, adventure golf, aquapark, beaches, boat launch ramp and yacht club on Lake Michigan.

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