The Buffalo Grove Park District has joined the Chicago Wilderness alliance, bringing the total membership of the alliance to 258 organizations.

The Buffalo Grove Park District’s mission is closely tied to that of Chicago Wilderness. The alliance works to conserve native biodiversity and connect people and nature. The Park District is committed to meeting the recreational needs and enriching the quality of life of all the residents of its community and strives to balance development with the preservation of open space.

“Chicago Wilderness coordinates conservation action at a regional scale to ensure the protection of our natural heritage for generations to come.  The Buffalo Grove Park District brings new expertise to the table and new opportunities for collaborative work to benefit the people and nature of the Chicago region,” said Melinda Pruett-Jones, Executive Director of Chicago Wilderness.

The district’s Environmental Action Team hosts an annual electronics recycling event and annual habitat restoration/clean-up days at Mike Rylko Community Park on North Buffalo Grove Road. The team also maintains the Floating Island on Green Lake, a floating surface of native wetland plants that provides habitat for wildlife and helps improve the water quality of the lake. The Environmental Action Team also cleans up a designated section of Deerfield Parkway twice a year as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program.

The Buffalo Grove Park District has plans to further develop the existing 42-mile bikeway system in Buffalo Grove complete with east-west connections to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Des Plaines Trail System and the Lake County Forest Preserves trail system at Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve.

“Through the Chicago Wilderness alliance, the both the Park District’s Environmental Action Team and Green Team will be able to further their efforts in conservation and environmental awareness.  The Buffalo Grove Park District is looking forward to working with Chicago Wilderness on future projects,” said Ryan P. Risinger, CPRP, Director of Recreation and Facilities, Buffalo Grove Park District.

The Buffalo Grove Park District and the other new member organizations were accepted into the alliance by its Executive Council on April 20, 2011.