Classic Prairie Restorations

Summer 2000

by Ray Wiggers

In four important parcels of Chicago Wilderness, multi-year projects supported by hundreds of volunteers and a few visionaries have helped restore the kind of prairie and river woodland formerly abundant in our area. Read about these success stories of renewal:

Schulenberg Prairie — setting a high standard
Gensburg-Markham Prairie — expanding a remnant
Fermilab Prairie — experiment in expansiveness
North Branch Prairies — Forest Preserve prairies and woodlands

Photo: Schulenberg Prairie sign

The Schulenberg Prairie has demonstrated that land devoted to farming for 100 years can be successfully transformed into a model of healthy grassland. Prescribed burns help the prairie flourish. Photo by Jim Nachel.