Parking added at Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve

Nine spaces now available at west end of preserve in Long Grove

LIBERTYVILLE – The Lake County Forest Preserves collaborated with the village of Long Grove to provide additional parking at the west end of Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove.

Nine parking spaces have been added at the southwest corner of the intersection of Old Hicks and Checker roads. The area connects directly to the Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve trail network. The village of Long Grove owns and maintains the lot.

“We were thrilled to work with Long Grove officials to create additional parking at this favored forest preserve,” Marah Altenberg, Lake County Forest Preserves board member, said in a news release. “After recent improvements at Buffalo Creek, it has become a prominent destination for recreation.”

Work at the preserve included the expansion of the Buffalo Creek reservoir and increasing the region’s resiliency against flooding. The project expanded the capacity of wetland terraces, improved erosion control and added recreational amenities for users.

“The most recent public access improvements at Buffalo Creek include the addition of 1.7 miles of trails, seven new boardwalks, two scenic overlooks and additional parking spaces,” said Angelo Kyle, president of the Lake County Forest Preserves. “Restoration efforts included 19 acres of new wetland, 60 acres of new upland prairie and savanna, 1,000 native trees and shrubs and a massive expansion of the reservoir that will provide an additional 180 acre-feet of flood storage.”