West Cook News

The Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) Centennial Volunteers program will move into a new and expanded phase of operation following new funding received through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners recently approved a partnership deal with Friends of the Forest Preserves, which was awarded a grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Chi-Cal Rivers Fund to continue to expand the Centennial Volunteers program.

Centennial Volunteers was first established in 2014 by FPCC, Friends of the Chicago River, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Audubon Chicago Region and North Branch Restoration Project to facilitate almost 7,000 volunteers carrying out 21,000 hours of service projects throughout the preserve district. Projects included invasive-species removal, native-seed collection and wildlife monitoring.

The program previously served Somme Woods East, Blue Star Woods, LaBagh Woods East, Kickapoo Woods and Whistler Woods, and will now expand to serve Beaubien Woods, River Oaks Woods, Clayton Smith Woods and Forest Glen Woods.

“The Centennial Volunteers restoration work is an example of what is possible when organizations partner,” FPCC General Superintendent Arnold Randall said. “With nearly 70,000 acres of diverse habitats, collaboration among like-minded organizations expands our capabilities and helps with the overall goal of restoring nature for generations to come.”