12th Annual ComEd Green Region Program Awards
Grants Up to $10,000 to Enhance Green Spaces Across Northern
Illinois
As part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability and the
enhancement of natural environments, ComEd and Openlands, a
nationally recognized leader in environmental conservation,
announced the 23 recipients of their 2024 Green Region Grant
Program. This year, grants totaling $200,000—up to $10,000
each—were awarded to support the preservation of nature, combat
climate change and create safe habitats for pollinators and
wildlife in communities across northern Illinois.
“At ComEd, we are dedicated to lifting the communities we are
privileged to serve, which includes ensuring residents have access
to cleaner and more sustainable public spaces,” said Melissa
Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer
Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. “By
collaborating with Openlands, we’re better able to identify
projects that can make the most meaningful impact on local
ecosystems while enhancing our quality of life and fostering
sustainable practices.”
Since the inception of the Green Region Grant Program in 2012,
ComEd and Openlands have invested more than $2.3 million to more
than 280 green space improvement projects that have benefited
nearly 1.6 million people across northern Illinois. This initiative
has supported the development of more than 85,000 feet of
ADA-accessible trails, the planting of more than 38,600 trees, and
the enhancement of more than 590 acres of land. The program is
funded by ComEd and administered by Openlands.
“We are proud to continue our collaboration with ComEd to drive
meaningful environmental improvements in the Chicagoland area,”
said Michael Davidson, CEO of Openlands. “By focusing
on pollinator habitats, tree planting, seed research, and the
maintenance of natural areas, we not only enhance public spaces but
contribute to biodiversity and resilience against climate
change.”
Details of the Green Region Grant Program can be found at
Openlands.org/GreenRegion.
The 23 recipients and their funded projects of the 2024 Green
Region Grant Program are:
Fox Valley Park District (Aurora) will convert nearly
three acres of existing turf grass to native vegetation at the
northern entrance of the 400-acre Stuart Sports Complex. The
project is part of an initiative to replace unnecessary turf grass
with habitats that benefit pollinators.
Village of Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook) will support efforts
to address pollinator population decline at Lily Cache Creek by
procuring and installing a diverse habitat for bees, butterflies,
birds, and other pollinators. In addition, educational signage
promoting awareness and safety will be added.
Stickney House Foundation (Bull Valley) will
transform a distress woodland into a rich savanna and woodland,
featuring over 90 native forbs, grasses, sedges, and shrubs. This
restoration will protect the headwaters of Boone Creek and nearby
nature preserves.
Academy for Global Citizenship (Chicago) will add
pollinator gardens, bees and hives as part of their urban farm and
community garden implementation on a new six-acre campus in
Southwest Chicago with its grant. This essential project will
create a proper pollinator habitat and innovative stormwater
management systems in an industrial neighborhood on land that has
been vacant since 2011.
Eckhart Park Advisory Council (Chicago) will support the
restoration of Jens Jensen Gardens at Eckhart Park by rebuilding
native ecosystems through pollinator gardens and providing raised
garden beds for youth conservation programs. This project pays
homage to prairie-style architect Jens Jensen and revitalizes the
park’s historical landscape.
Forest Preserve Foundation (Chicago) will partner with
the Forest Preserves of Cook County to install native seed beds and
a wild seed garden, increasing region-specific plant seed stock
critical for successful restoration projects with its grant.
Volunteers will help care for and maintain these essential
resources.
Young Men’s Educational Network (Chicago) will advance
the second phase of its Garden to Table Pipeline by enhancing its
community garden hub with a greenhouse, native plant landscaping,
rain garden and fruit tree orchard. This work supports local food
systems and community nourishment.
Village of Franklin Park (Franklin Park) will transform a
former police department site into a public pollinator garden with
signage that raises awareness of pollinator conservation and
climate resilience, while enhancing community engagement.
Village of Homer Glen (Homer Glen) will add plants to
Culver Park’s pollinator habitat, supporting climate resiliency and
conservation restoration efforts in the community.
Homewood Science Center (Homewood) will enhance its
existing pollinator garden, recognized as a National Wildlife
Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. Informative signage will be
installed in addition to the introduction of new
pollinator-friendly plants, increasing biodiversity and educating
visitors on pollinator importance.
History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff (Lake Forest)
will install signage along the paths of the historical gardens to
tell the story of land conservation, water mitigation and
pollinator support and educate visitors on these critical
issues.
Lake Forest Open Lands Association (Lake Forest) will
steward the 15-acre Carroll Meadow along the Middlefork of the
North Branch of the Chicago River. The project includes removing
invasive species, conducting prescribed burns and planting native
species that support pollinators.
The Forge Charitable Adventures (Lemont) will expand the
pollinator meadow at the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area,
removing invasive species and planting native seedlings. These
improvements will be supported by educational signage to establish
a sustainable ecosystem.
York Center Park District (Lombard) will add native
plants and increase local pollinators at parks, enhancing
biodiversity and providing a naturally scenic area for the
community to enjoy.
Bee Haven (Mokena) will help improve habitat quality in a
mixed-use suburban landscape near Burnham Prairie. The project
focuses on removing invasive species and planting native trees and
wildflowers to enhance ecological functions and support declining
plant, pollinator and bird populations, while beautifying the
neighborhood.
Pilgrim Community Preschool (Oak Park) will enhance its
outdoor classroom space by installing a rain garden, expanding
native greenspace and providing informational signage, fostering
environmental stewardship among young learners.
Village of Port Barrington (Port Barrington) will enhance
its waterfowl and wetlands ecosystem with new bioswales and
educational signage. Native seed mixes and pollinator beds will be
professionally installed, welcoming visitors through accessible
pathways.
The City of Prospect Heights (Prospect Heights) will
create a biodiverse pollinator park that serves as a nature refuge
between the police and fire departments. This public space will
become a key part of Prospect Heights’ green corridors.
Riverdale Park District (Riverdale) will support the
Community Rain Garden Engagement Project, part of the park
district’s ongoing efforts in community outreach and education on
green infrastructure and sustainable practices.
Forest Preserves of Winnebago County (Rockford) will help
restore 80 acres of oak-hickory woodland at Funderburg Forest
Preserve by funding a diverse, pollinator-friendly seed mix to
enhance areas formerly occupied by invasive species, supporting a
healthier ecosystem.
Niles Township Government (Skokie) will create a
pollinator and rain garden in an underutilized retention area,
transforming it into a space that supports pollinators and offers
enjoyment for the community with its grant.
Village of South Holland (South Holland) will improve the
health and stabilization of the Little Calumet stream bank,
providing habitat for wildlife and pollinators, and offering
residents a way to interact with the natural environment.
St. Charles Park District (St. Charles) will remove over
an acre of degraded woodland, enhancing a native prairie plant
community and connecting two fragmented prairie systems, thus
increasing pollinator abundance and site aesthetics.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:
EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with approximately 10 million
electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of
customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million
customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's
population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with
the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
Founded in 1963, Openlands is one of the nation’s oldest and
most successful metropolitan conservation organizations, having
helped secure, protect, and provide public access to more than
70,000 acres of land for parks, forest preserves, wildlife refuges,
land and water greenway corridors, and urban gardens. For more
information, please visit openlands.org.
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