Politics & Government

Openlands Terminates Contract on Timber Trails

Although unable to secure enough funding by a May 31 deadline, the preservation group plans to continue fighting for Timber Trails West to become parkland.

Openlands, the green-space preservation group for conversion into open natural space, has been forced to cancel their contract with Red Seal Development and the LLC currently holding the property.

The contract termination was due to Openlands’ inability to raise enough funds to satisfy a clause mandating a certain amount by May 31, said Openlands Land Preservation Specialist Emy Brawley.

“We were hoping that the Cook County Forest Preserve District would be able to help us reach the rest of our goal, and they weren’t,” said Brawley, who has overseen Openlands’ bid for the land.

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However, Brawley stressed that Openlands still had their eyes on the land—as they have since the original Timber Trails Country Club closed in 2004—and that it was unlikely there would be any residential development on the land due to the economy.

“We’ll continue to advocate for a park solution to the property,” Brawley said. “This is just one bump in a very long road. We’re not going anywhere, and our commitment to preserve the property hasn’t wavered at all.”

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Meanwhile, the proponents of the leading alternative Timber Trails say they are continuing to work to secure investors.


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