Natural Extension

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the April 2025 issue.

Ticking a long-gestating item off its to-do list, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County recently finalized the purchase of 35 acres of land in Wheaton. Located on Leask Lane and bordered on three sides by Danada Forest Preserve and the Morton Arboretum, the $12 million purchase includes 33.3 acres of open space, 1.7 acres of 100-year floodplain, and an 0.8 acre of wetlands. In addition to adding to Danada’s 797 acres of protected space, the new acreage also serves as what the district sees as a vital wildlife corridor, allowing animals to move freely between the preserve and the arboretum to find food, shelter, and mates.

Photo: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County