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Microsoft in your community

Transforming a golf course into an urban nature preserve in northern Illinois

Severson Dells Nature Center is transforming the Elliott Golf Course in Cherry Valley into a community nature preserve. With a grant from Microsoft, Severson Dells Educational Foundation will restore this 168-acre former golf course to its native habitat of prairie, oak savanna, and wetlands, and establish a nature learning center in the former clubhouse. Located on a public bus line, the nature preserve will be accessible to the public for recreation and environmental education.

Restoring ecosystems and community connection to the land

In restoring the Elliott Golf Course land, Severson Dells’ mission is twofold: to recover native habitats and to reconnect the community to the natural environment.

Graphic showing project objectives

https://www.seversondells.com/growing

Recovering native habitats

The ecological restoration of the Elliott Golf Course property will involve the recovery of:

  • Wetlands and aquatic habitat. The team will work with engineers to uncover and rewild the culvert creek that flows through the property. In addition to restoring aquatic habitat for birds and insects, the restored creek will once again serve as stormwater filtration. This will improve the quality of the water downstream, as this creek feeds into the Kishwaukee River.
  • Prairie habitat. The restoration of prairie habitat involves removing non-native trees planted by the golf course, clearing woody debris, and planting native prairie grasses. The project team will work with some of the golf course features; for example, converting sand traps to sand prairie habitat.
  • Woodland habitat. The team is already removing non-native trees and plans to involve students from the Flodin Unity Boys & Girls Club in planting native oak and hickory trees.

By restoring native habitats, Severson Dells expects to see a resurgence in local wildlife. A pair of sandhill cranes have already been spotted on the site. The restoration will also create prairie habitat for the rusty patched bumblebee, an endangered species.

Reconnecting people to the land

In addition to restoring the land, Severson Dells aims to make the land accessible to the public. Severson Dells Educational Foundation’s mission is to help residents of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin experience a connection with nature. The nonprofit already operates the Severson Dells Nature Center on rural land west of Rockford. This new urban nature preserve in Cherry Valley, well served by public transit and across the street from the Flodin Unit Boys & Girls Club, will expand access to nature education programming and outdoor recreation for the region.

To support public access to the restored land, Severson Dells plans to develop educational and recreational amenities, including:

  • A nature center, housed in the former golf clubhouse, will feature classes and camps for kids, interpretive exhibits, and other community nature education resources.
  • Recreational features such as hiking trails, birder opportunities, and access points to ponds and creeks.

Children are an important focus of the new nature center. Ann Wasser, executive director of Severson Dells, explains: “The opportunity to educate about the importance of nature in a more urban setting is just too good to pass up. You can hear the kids from the Boys & Girls Club across the street, and we are thrilled at the opportunity to be able to work with them on a regular basis.”

Microsoft is proud to partner with Severson Dells in bringing an urban nature preserve and education center to Cherry Valley. In addition to restoring native habitats for wildlife, the new preserve gives Cherry Valley residents a way to experience and learn about nature in their backyard.

“Severson Dells is committed to making nature education accessible to our community, and adding this unique opportunity on the east side provides easier access to a whole new segment of our community.”
—Chris Samuelson, Chairman of the Severson Dells Board