Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission

Location

14 East Camp McDonald Road, in-between the Prospect Heights Police and Fire Departments. The project wraps the Police station and continues down Maple Avenue.

 

Size

 

1.5 acres

 

History

Back in 2015 the late Alderman Larry Rosenthal, had a dream of creating a nature refuse where first responders from the Police and Fire Departments, could go to decompress from the sometimes tragic and life changing events they encounter every day of service. It was a noble idea that sat idle until Superintendent of the Public Works Mark Roscoe revived the idea with two weeks to go in the grant application process for a ComEd Green Regions grant. With the PHNRC spearheading the proposal, the project was awarded a grant from ComEd with matching funding from the Dr. Chris and Julie Wood, the PHNRC Commissioners Fund and the City of Prospect Heights. All the plants used in this restoration were produced in the PHNRC greenhouse program.

 

PHNRC volunteers came together to do the work and the results speak for themselves. In a separate project, the City of Prospect Heights is funding a 5 year project to restore the shoreline around the lake based on the success of the pilot restoration. Every year a new section will be restored.

 

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO HERE:

 

This is the place for walks that feature the intimacies of nature on the mow paths and a grand view of lake and sky from the street. Watch the pollinators at work and the birds fish. Enjoy a sunrise or a sun set from one of the natural seating areas. The wide open skyline above the lake makes for glorious panoramas and great cloudspotting. The "Can You Find Me" signage will challenge your power of observation or make a scavenger hunt for the kids. Kick back and fish from the shoreline or watch the turtles basking in the sun. Pollinator Park is the perfect sunrise or late evening promenade.

 

WHAT CAN YOU SEE HERE:

 

Pollinator park is a great place to observe the fishing species that frequent the area. Osprey, Egrets, Black-crowned night Herons, green Herons, great-blue Herons, Cormorants, Eagles, King Fishers and Gulls are regulars. Don't forget the pollinators and the nature trails.

 

Birds

Wildlife

Insects

Turtles

Go fishing

Frogs

Pollinators

Plants over 70 species of sedges, grasses, rushes, forbes

Informational signage and plant ID tags

The Solstice Garden

 

 

 

Planting day in July

The Maple Avenue prairie planting

The seating area

Cadets from Girl Scout Troop 41508 out of Science and Arts Academy in Des Plaines created the stones and designed the path to the Fire Department