WILD ONES DUPAGE NEWSLETTER: MARCH 2016Hinsdale Prairie... on Facebook
Hinsdale Prairie is a 2.5acre remnant prairie* enclosed by Illinois Route 83 on the west and the Village of Hinsdale on the east. On Jackson Street it runs north and south in a rectangle between 8th and 7th Streets. Betz successfully advocated for this prairie's preservation and long-term study with the Village of Hinsdale fr
om the mid-1970s until he passed away in 2007. Dr. Betz studied Hinsdale Prairie's plants and soils, identifying an Illinois endangered species, Lespedeza leptostachya (Prairie Bush Clover), and later welcoming Dr. Marlin Bowles from the Morton Arboretum who in 2000 planted a population of the endangered Asclepias meadii (Mead's Milkweed). Dr. Gerould Wilhelm and Dr. Laura Rericha pointed to large encroaching populations of crown vetch, day lily, teasel and more when they conducted a research visit in the summer of 2015. Agreements are on the public record: Village of Hinsdale (VOH) trustees agreed to continue annual maintenance with annual weeding and prescribed burns. The parcel of land which includes HP, is an Illinois owned property in DuPage County (PIN #0911315002), which encompasses a wide range of landscape practices and neglect. BP/ West Shore Pipeline and IDOT Right of Way border and undermine the southwest portion. In the north, an overwhelming population of invasive plants exist as well as a combined stream and storm drain with ancient, crumbling infrastructure. VOH provides minimal turf grass maintenance in a portion of the area. Underground utilities have landscape easement ROW requirements as well. Friends of Hinsdale Prairie (FHP) was formed in 2014 as an advocacy group without meetings or dues, but importantly as a community joining together to be counted, standing ready to serve one of the most rare ecosystems in the world: a remnant prairie. If you’d like to help, please contact Kathleen Thomas at [email protected]. Prairie advocates can also add their 'likes' to the “Friends of the Hinsdale Prairie” page and posts, bringing much-needed attention to Hinsdale Prairie. * If you would like to understand why saving Hinsdale Prairie and other prairie remnants are so important, please view the TEDx youtube video called “Why Prairie Matters”. Thank you, Kathleen Thomas, Illinois Native Plant Society and Wild Ones member, FHP founder
