CHICAGO (WBBM NWSRADIO) -- Plans are in the works to renovate the largest forest preserve in north suburban Lake County and the public will get a chance to weigh-in in two weeks.
The 2,835-acre Lakewood Forest Preserve is old and worn out and "needs a new face on it," said Randy Seebach, the Lake County Forest Preserve District director of planning and land preservation.
For the past year, planners have been working on two concepts for the forest preserve and on Sept. 23 between 5-7 p.m. at the Fremont Township Center, the public will be able to hear about the proposals and give its own comments and ideas.
Seebach said anyone who cannot make it to the open house will be able to comment online for three weeks afterwards.
Seebach said that, "Over time, things became less and less efficient and things aged…and right now some of those former farm buildings that were there when we purchased the property are nearing 70-years old."
He said most of the farm buildings will be torn down, but that as much of the materials as possible will be re-purposed. Seebach said the dairy barn and silo will remain.
Seebach said the idea behind the plans was to make things more compact, more functional and easier to maintain.
The $4.2 million renovation project will not get underway until 2021 and the entire forest preserve will likely be closed during the renovation work. Seebach expects to see the preserve reopened in 2022.
