The 2040 Comprehensive Plan

Focusing the Forest Preserves to help people and nature thrive

[page under development]

Project Overview Complete

 

What is the Comprehensive Plan?

  • Designed to guide the Forest Preserves for the next 10-20 years
  • Informed by input from 602 members of the public and the organization
  • Analyzes the history, services, facilities, finances, and trends affecting the Forest Preserves

Completed in 2024, the Comprehensive Plan evaluates the Forest Preserves and determines six broad goals for the Forest Preserves to achieve by 2040. The Forest Preserves’ last organization-wide plan was their 2010 Master Plan. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan informs the Forest Preserves' shorter-term strategic plans, which inform annual budgets.

Above: Planning process from research to action

 

Read the full 2040 Comprehensive Plan or scroll on for the key takeaways.

Highlights: 2040 Comprehensive Plan

From Chapter 1: A Bird's-eye View

The Champaign County Forest Preserves are one of the 19 forest preserve and conservation districts in Illinois. These districts lead the way in providing public access to nature for their counties.

 

The mission of the Forest Preserves comprises three pillars:

    • Conservation led by Natural Resources and Site Operations staff, who restore and manage native ecosystems
    • Recreation including nearly 50 miles of trails throughout the preserves
    • Education primarily provided by the Museum and Education department within the preserves and throughout the community

The Champaign County Forest Preserves own 4,000 acres of land, which is about three-quarters of the public nature in Champaign County. However, less than 1% of the county is protected natural area.

Restoring nature supports biodiversity, resilience to climate change, human health, and the economy. Public surveys and state and national direction support an expanded role for conservation agencies through land acquisition, climate change adaptation, education, and expanded trails.

How much nature is protected?
How much nature is protected?

From Chapter 2: Champaign County Demographics and Trends

The Forest Preserves serve the taxpayers of Champaign County and should strive to distribute their services as equitably as possible as the county continues to change. The population of Champaign County is becoming older and more diverse. On the whole, visitors to the Forest Preserves are Whiter than the county average. 

From Chapter 3: Community Input

To inform the recommendations of this plan (see below), the Forest Preserves gathered input through in-person discussions, internal surveys, and a statistically representative, county-wide survey. Participants included community members, Board Commissioners, staff, and members of the Citizens Engagement Committee and Forest Preserve Friends Foundation.

The Forest Preserves are highly regarded in the community but have opportunities for improvement. 

The top themes from community input included:

    • The Forest Preserves are great stewards of the land and should buy and restore more land
    • There is a lack of public awareness and a need to expand beyond the traditional user base, including with programming
    • The Forest Preserves should continually focus on financial sustainability
Results from the County-wide Survey (2023)

Chapter 4 inventories and evaluates Forest Preserve facilities.

To help the Forest Preserves balance resources among their maintenance obligations, infrastructure upgrades, and improvements for educational and recreational opportunities, the Forest Preserves inventoried each property. Report cards grade the state of facilities and structures, and several important improvements and necessary plans are identified. This inventory complements the shorter-term, 5-year capital planning process by providing a bigger-picture view of the state of infrastructure and improvements to consider at the Forest Preserves.

Chapter 5 contextualizes the Forest Preserves' financial performance through key indicators and comparisons with other districts.

Financial health is imperative to a tax-funded, public-serving organization like the Forest Preserves. Compared to districts of similar sizes, the Forest Preserves’ operating and capital expenses appear typical. Their operating expenses have consistently risen since 2007, including a large uptick since 2019 reflecting continued investment in staffing. Their capital expenses as a proportion of all expenses have also risen recently, reflecting the Forest Preserves’ expanded capacity to provide services and maintain facilities due to the 2020 referendum.

Chapter 6 delivers six recommendations to guide the Forest Preserves through 2040.

The recommendations reflect areas where public feedback, internal surveys, and background research aligned to clearly indicate a direction that would benefit the Forest Preserves. This plan recommends the Preserves:

  • Create a programming plan & improve the nature education space
  • Expand trails & outdoor recreation opportunities
  • Evaluate & maintain facilities & infrastructure
  • Increase engagement
  • Lead on climate & conservation
  • Provide more land for conservation & recreation

These six recommendations will ensure Forest Preserves achieve their mission and provide the best possible value to the taxpayers of Champaign County well into the future.