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Allerton Park, East-Central Illinois

Ed,

As I understand it, in the 1930's Robert Allerton gave the University
of Illinois (and other charitable organizations) thousands of acres of
land (in his will?).  The 1500 acres of forest straddling the Sangamon
River (where Allerton's mansion was located) were designated to be
preserved as a natural area, Allerton Park, but much of the land was
farmland, and the U of I could do what it wanted with it.  This summer,
the U of I had planned to sell about 1800 acres of farmland to the DNR for
use as a large prairie reconstruction.  There was some opposition from the
Farm Bureau and from an editor of a local alternative newspaper who
thought the 3 tenant farmers were being "plowed under".  As your article
stated, the land transfer to IDNR has been postponed until the next fiscal
year.  

Although this proposal has been postponed, we would appreciate any
positive comments to Governor George Ryan, IDNR Director Brent Manning.
(Their addresses are at the end of this message.)

HOWEVER, while the 1800 acre land transfer has been postponed, there is
ANOTHER opportunity to protect land adjacent to Allerton Park, ~1400 
acres.  This situation is much more desperate because the land
will be auctioned Novmber 29th, development pressure in this area is
intense, and if IDNR doesn't buy the land, it will likely be turned into
subdivisions and strip malls, in a town that is already struggling to keep
its infrastructure in pace with the development.

Below is a forwarded message summarizing the 1400 acres:

---------- Forwarded message ----------

On November 29th, the Art Institute of Chicago is going to auction off its
extensive gifts of farm land given to them by Robert Allerton in the late
1930's. Of concern are their lands adjacent to the South edge of the Park
and to the East edge of the Park, extending East for about two miles
straddle the Park entry road and reaching to the Sangamon River on the
North, a tract of 1410 acres. Conservationists see this as a one-time
opening for greatly extending and protection the Park from the urban
development that is bound to happen if the auction of this land goes
through as planned. What we want to do and need to do is convince Governor
Ryan and his head of Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), either before
the auction or at the auction, to buy this property and add it to the
Park. Here are some of the issues to consider in your letter:

ART INSTITUTE /ALLERTON  LAND  SALE

Reasons why the IDNR should buy theland next to Allerton park.

*Protects 1.5 miles of the Sangamon River upstream from Allerton Park
(which is habitat for 36 fish species and 21 mussels).

*Connects Allerton Park with two other parcels owned by the University of
Illinois.  (One parcel is 158 acres of floodplain forest along the
Sangamon River and the other is a 242 acre farm.)

*Protects the largest great blue heron rookery in East Central Illinois
(139 nests in 2000).

*Protects the scenic gateway to Allerton Park from urban sprawl.

*Doubles the size of Allerton Park (from 1,500 to 3,000 acres).

*Preserves a 285 acre block of forest along the Sangamon River to benefit
21 area sensitive woodland birds known from the area.

*Provides the opportunity to restore a 1000 acres of grassland habitat
(prairie bird populations have shown the steepest, most consistent
declines of all North American birds over the last 20 yrs.)

*Expands and protects habitat for 5 state listed species.

*This proposal is consistent with priorities and goals set forth by the
Illinois Endangered Species Board, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission,
Illinois Conservation Congress, Heart of The Sangamon River Partnership's
Watershed Plan, Open Land Trust Fund, Natural Areas Preservation Act,
Smart Growth Task Force

Consequently our full attention needs to be focused on the ART INSTITUTE
LAND SALE next to Allerton Park. This 2,800 acres tract of land is to be
auctioned off on Nov. 29, 2000. We think that the 1410 acres next to the
Park and to the Sangamon River is the best candidate for the IDNR to
purchase. This land will be lost to development if it is not purchased on
or before this November 29th by the conservation community. This land is
the first opportunity to expand Allerton PArk and the only opportunity to
protect its local watershed from being subdivided.

Governor George Ryan
207 Statehouse, Suite 16-100
Springfield IL 62706

Director Brent Manning
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Lincoln Tower Plaza
524 S. Second St.
Springfield , IL 62701

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