Statistics
- Gross Acres (ga): 197.257
- Net Acres (na): 195.988
- Trails (Miles): 1.49 (Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding)
- Wetlands (Acres): 37.77
- Agricultural (Acres): 73.48
Purchases
- University of Chicago (Donnelley)*: 03/04/91 - 155.560 ga - (154.541 na) - $2,318,115.00
- Rehabilitation Institute (Donnelley)*: 03/04/91 - 36.244 ga - (36.244 na) - $543,660.00
- Schopper: 03/29/01 - 5.453 ga - (5.203 na) - $175,250.68
- Total Cost: $3,037,025.68
* The University of Chicago and Rehabilitation Institute parcels encompass land contained in both Casey Road North and Casey Road South. The acreage has been broken out based on location (North or South) and the price paid for the parcels has been divided in the same manner.
The Township Board has granted the Lake County Forest Preserve District a permanent easement over the trail corridor running through the entirety of the Casey Road North and Casey Road South sites. Although the existing trail connections must be maintained in perpetuity, the location of the trail may be altered.
Site Notes
The Liberty Prairie Nature Preserve has been the site of large scale ecological restorations. A rare calcareous fen and sedge meadow complex have been restored. A 20 acre farm field has been replanted to prairie. A small virgin prairie has been maintained. The Liberty Prairie Regional Trail traverses this site providing excellent public access.
Ecological Description (Applied Ecological Services, Inc. 1997)
Note: The AES report was compiled prior to the purchase of the Schopper parcel, at the extreme northwest of the site, and as such, it is not included in the description of the site.
This site lies on gently rolling uplands, 80% of which is of well drained to moderately well drained silt loam. The remainder is of poorly drained silt clay loam. The Liberty Prairie Nature Preserve occupies the western portion of the site. The Preserve manages and protects diverse wet prairie, sedge meadow, and calcareous fen communities. The Preserve wetlands are continuous with wooded wetlands to the east. Damming the drainage way in the north end of this area created a 4-8 acre shallow (6"-8" deep) pond. It is vegetated by large willows (3'-4' dbh), and cottonwoods. The ground flora surrounding the pond is mostly disturbance-site species and agronomic weedy species. The wooded wetland areas support cottonwood, elm, willow, boxelder, and a dense understory of buckthorn, honeysuckle, dogwood, multiflora rose, and berry shrubs. Reed canary grass is well established in these areas. The remaining open space on the property is in corn production or fallow fields.