How will our children and grandchildren know about life in the 1900s if we don't save old farm houses and theaters, restore prairies and oak savannas? How can we connect with the history of our rural and downtown communities if we don't slow down sprawl?

Park districts and forest preserves are preserving our cultural heritage in countless ways every day. For example: local museums, living history farms, historical homes and landmarks. Open space, forests and restored wetlands. Lectures and educational programs.

In April of this year, the DuPage County Forest Preserve announced its plans to spend about $84 million to save some of the county's last remaining open space, including the historic 590-acre St. James Farm near Warrenville. According to forest preserve president D. "Dewey" Pierotti, in an article for the Chicago Sun-Times, the board fears that some of the land will be lost in the six months until a referendum vote can be taken.

The past can be paved over that fast.

In this issue we feature four preservation success stories. You'll learn about an 1860s merino sheep farm in the Chicago suburb of Geneva (page 18) and "vintage base ball" from the same period as played down south by the Macon County Ground Squirrels (page 23).

The Champaign Park District recently purchased the Viriginia Theatre, which opened in the Roaring '20s (page 29).

And, in Naperville, where growth is exponential, the DuPage County Forest Preserve has preserved a one- acre cemetery that could be the only acre in all of Will County that has not been farmed, grazed, or in another way disturbed by human activity (page 27).

Finally, here are some resources for those in the preservation business: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, www.state.il.us/HPA/; Illinois Association of Museums, www.museum.state.il.us/iam/; Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, 312.922.1742; and the Clinton- Gore Livable Communities Web site, www.livablecommunities.gov/toolsandresources/ cultural_heritage.htm.

ANN M, LONDRIGAN
'Editor'

4 ¦ Illinois Parks and Recreation | May /June 2000