Staving off development in the early 21st Century to preserve open space can be like counting on the drainage system to handle a tidal wave. Especially in Illinois, where only 3 percent of the land is owned publicly.
But a recent Illinois Association of Park Districts and The Trust for Public Lands report contends residents want more park land preserved and that communities and government bodies statewide desperately wish to add to their open lands acreage.
A key element of the report suggests a need to acquire 83,000 acres over the next five years, but that it would cost $1.2 billion to do so. That raises the question of just how practical and likely such expenditures are in a time of belt tightening. The combination might indicate that the findings are a window-shopping exercise–desirable but unaffordable.
“The needs are great,” wrote Ted Flickinger, director of the parks association, in an introduction to the report. Later, in an interview, he admitted, “the timing [for spending] is not great.”
Surveys were mailed to 354 state and local parks and conservation entities that are members of the parks association asking them to describe their needs over the next several years.
A sad aspect, according to parks association spokeswoman Lynn McClure, is that some communities such as Arlington Heights, Skokie and Northbrook have little or no room to expand parklands.
“Maybe a half-acre here and there,” she said. “It’s too late for some places.”
Chicago may be renowned for lakefront acreage and inner-city lagoons, but it is understood that high-rise condominiums are more likely to go up than for additional space to be preserved.
But experts are more concerned about the sprawl into burgeoning suburbs. The way they see it, there is still time to prevent subdivisions from becoming overwhelming.
“This is the first time anyone has asked all of the public entities, `What do you need?'” McClure said. “It’s important because when land goes, it’s gone.”
The report is a bold plea to attract attention to the idea of adding more lands to the public trust for future public needs. It is a mom-and-apple-pie issue–basically–and is in tune with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ philosophy.
“That is a fundamental conviction I agree with,” IDNR director Brent Manning said. “And it’s absolutely necessary for the quality of life. Sprawl is out there.”
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There is both awareness and concern about city and suburban growth.
“We’re not going to stop urban sprawl,” Flickinger said. “We’re just trying to stay up with it. Look at the area on I-55. Compare it to what it was like 20 years ago.”
Flickinger said the standard national ratio for preserving open space is to set aside 1,000 acres for every 10,000 developed. He praised the evolution of Naperville and said it is a community for others to admire.
“Naperville is really a model for across the country,” said Flickinger, citing a program that required land to be saved when subdivisions were built. “They’ve done well on that. They have sufficient land for parks and recreation because of good planning.”
Every little bit helps, he said, noting small patches of land are turned into community gardens in downtown Chicago neighborhoods.
“People take pride in their garden areas,” Flickinger said.
Spending money for land acquisition could be perceived as a luxury, even if it is the wise thing to do and opportunities must be seized as they arise, Flickinger admitted, but said there are several ways to raise money.
One way the legislature could take action, the report recommended, is by re-authorizing the Open Lands Trust and making it permanent.
“Forty million a year,” Flickinger said. “That would be a good start for four years.”
Other ways would be giving tax breaks to private landowners who transfer land titles to governmental agencies; or by dedicating a small percentage of sales tax receipts to an acquisition fund, as Missouri does. Other states have instituted creative programs for land acquisition–the Forever Florida plan, Flickinger said, has earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars.
“People put much more of an emphasis on their quality of life,” Flickinger said. “We’re going to be giving it our all.”