Forest Preserves spent extra $40 million yearly on expanded conservation, maintenance, tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/15/forest-preserves-extra-40-million/)
15-09-2026
The news covers a comprehensive progress report presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners detailing how the Forest Preserves of Cook County spent the additional $40 million in annual revenue generated by a voter-approved property tax referendum passed in 2022.According to General Superintendent Adam Bianchi, the influx of funding between 2023 and 2025 went directly into long-delayed maintenance, habitat restoration, public amenities, and financial stabilization:
- Ecological Restoration: Approximately $11 million went toward ecological management. This allowed the district to bring an additional 3,000 acres under active restorationraising the total to over 18,000 acresand launch a native seed collection and amplification program alongside the Chicago Botanic Garden.
- Trail and Facility Maintenance: Around $4 million was dedicated to trail repairs and resurfacing, while nearly $4 million funded upgrades to aging public restrooms, picnic shelters, and event groves.
- Operational Modernization: The district replaced aging fleet vehicles and modernized waste handling by installing paired trash and recycling receptacles across popular sites.
- Partner Institutions: The tax revenue allowed increased annual support for major partner facilities: roughly $4.7 million annually went to Brookfield Zoo to address decades-old back-end infrastructure (such as HVAC systems, security alarms, and water treatment equipment), and $2.8 million annually supported path, bridge, and drainage repairs at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
- Pension Health: The additional revenue stabilized the district’s employee pension fund, putting it on a clear path toward full solvency.