CHICAGO – An effort to expand open lands in suburban Cook County sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) was signed into law Friday. Senate Bill 1499 gives the Cook County Forest Preserve District the power to acquire land by easement, which will now enable the district to enter into voluntary agreements with businesses, utilities and local governments to acquire patches of open land and incorporate them into the Forest Preserve green belt.

Until this legislation was signed, every other forest preserve district in Illinois can acquire land by easement. With this new law in place, the Cook County Forest Preserve will no longer be forced to purchase any land it acquired, saving the taxpayers significant cost.

“Cook County has one of the highest urban populations in the country. This legislation will preserve and hopefully create more open space,” said Cunningham. “Fighting for our environment will always be one of my top priorities while in the General Assembly.”