Current Chicago-Rockford Airport expansion plans call for the demolition of the Bell Bowl Prairie, an 8,000-year-old natural prairie that supports rare and endangered species like the Rusty Patched Bumblebee.
Most recently, the airport authority’s board of commissioners disputed the existence of a 40-year agreement with the Natural Land Institute to manage Bell Bowl. The board adopted a resolution at its Dec. 16 meeting that repealed any such relationship “if it was even approved” back in 1977.
Supporters of the Prairie are not asking to cancel airport expansion plans. In fact, the airport could instead use recently awarded state funds to redesign parts of the expansion to avoid destroying Bell Bowl Prairie.
Construction is scheduled to resume March 2022.
To help #SaveBellBowlPrairie, complete the convenient Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) form to contact your elected leaders: https://ilenviro.salsalabs.org/SaveBellBowlPrairie/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3J5rAQB-P0Bp1aKFRXsThgi4PihbyKdQO-5e92Wh9NEGJJsqxrGwh86b8 then spread the word to family, friends and other environmental activists!
For more information on Bell Bowl Prairie, visit https://www.savebellbowlprairie.org/ .
