June 5 public open house to address Roland Olson Forest Preserve Master Plan

Online Staff Report

ROSCOE, Ill. — A public open house to review a Master Plan for Roland Olson Forest Preserve will be from 6 to 7 p.m., tonight, Tuesday, June 5, at the preserve’s Stuga shelterhouse.

Roland Olson Forest Preserve is at 9669 Atwood Road, Roscoe, Ill. Light refreshments will be served at the meeting.

The Winnebago County Forest Preserve District (WCFPD) has been meeting with neighbors and users of the Roland Olson Forest Preserve and has formed a Master Plan committee.

The Master Plan committee has met and reviewed goals for the development of the preserve, and has toured the preserve identifying features to be enhanced and areas to be replanted and developed for recreational uses.

The culmination of this committee’s work is a preliminary Master Plan to guide the future restoration and development of Roland Olson.

Citizens have shown interest in donating to a tree-planting fund for the preserve.

At the Open House, the Roland Olson Forest Preserve Master Plan committee will outline the following program to allow donations targeted for trees. Money would be donated to the WCFPD for the specific purpose of purchasing trees.

The trees purchased need to be one of the species listed on the Master Plan, but they could be an addition to those already specified. If desired, the donor could work with the district for a specific location. There would be no guarantee with any tree purchase.

Roland Olson is 127 acres that were once a polo complex. It is a favorite spot for hiking, picnicking, equestrian trails and soccer. A paved recreation path is accessible directly from the Roland Olson preserve.

For more about WCFPD, visit wcfpd.org.

Posted June 5, 2012