DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — The Downers Grove Park District is pleased to announce that Lyman Woods has been awarded a $3,500 ComEd Green Region Grant (administered by Openlands) to support the Snappy’s Bridge Pollinator Passage Project, an initiative that will restore native habitat and strengthen biodiversity within the Lyman Woods Forest Preserve.
The grant is part of the ComEd Green Region Grant Program, which has invested more than $2.5 million in nearly 300 conservation projects across Northern Illinois since 2013. The program supports open space restoration and conservation efforts that improve environmental health and increase access to nature for local communities.
The Snappy’s Bridge Pollinator Passage Project will restore approximately one-quarter acre of degraded habitat adjacent to an existing two-acre high-quality prairie at Lyman Woods. The project will remove invasive species and replace them with native shrubs, grasses and wildflowers that provide critical habitat for pollinators, including the federally endangered rusty-patched bumble bee, which was documented at Lyman Woods last year.
Located near Snappy’s Bridge, a popular boardwalk spanning Lacey Creek, the restoration area serves as an important ecological connection between prairie and woodland habitats. Native plantings will help improve pollinator habitat, reduce erosion, increase stormwater infiltration and support water quality throughout the DuPage River watershed.
“This grant allows us to enhance one of the most ecologically significant areas of Lyman Woods while creating additional opportunities for the community to connect with nature,” said Ryan Maywin, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation in the Nature & Museums Division at the Downers Grove Park District. “By restoring native habitat and expanding educational opportunities, we’re helping protect local wildlife and creating a healthier environment for future generations.”
Grant funding will also support the installation of permanent interpretive signage near Snappy’s Bridge to educate visitors about native pollinators, prairie ecosystems and the importance of habitat restoration. The restored site will become an outdoor classroom for school groups, nature programs and community workshops, while complementing Lyman Woods’ ongoing volunteer restoration efforts.
The project builds upon the Park District’s long-term ecological stewardship initiatives at Lyman Woods, where staff and volunteers regularly remove invasive species and restore native habitats. By expanding the existing prairie by approximately 14 percent, the project will create additional nectar sources and nesting habitat for native bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects while improving the overall resilience of the preserve.
The ComEd Green Region Grant Program has benefited more than 1.6 million people through conservation projects that have restored nearly 1,837 acres of land, planted more than 38,900 trees and created over 86,000 feet of ADA-accessible trails throughout Northern Illinois.
For more information about Lyman Woods and volunteer restoration opportunities, visit www.dgparks.org.
About ComEd
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), a Fortune 100 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.
About Openlands
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 55,000 acres of land for parks, forest preserves, wildlife refuges, land and water greenway corridors, and urban gardens. For more information, please visit openlands.org.