Corlands | About

Formed in 1977, CorLands is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help communities in northeastern Illinois increase the quantity and quality of open space for public enjoyment. Using a variety of conservation tools, it has helped local governments and private landowners save more than 10,000 acres of open space, valued at more than $400 million. CorLands is an affiliate of Openlands Project, a nonprofit conservation organization that is among the oldest in the nation.

Local governments often race against time to buy endangered open space before it is developed. Yet, given escalating land values, they often do not have the acquisition monies available when parcels come up for sale. CorLands assists local governments by quickly providing interim financing to buy land for parks and recreation on their behalf, leasing it to them until they can assemble the funds to buy it.

A shortage of funds is not the only obstacle that communities face when trying to buy endangered open space. Local governments may lack experience in the complexities of acquisition, or the available staff to conduct time-consuming transactions. CorLands provides the expertise they need. Recognizing that each transaction is unique, it develops efficient, cost-effective ways for local governments to buy properties while addressing the concerns of landowners.

CorLands helps establish conservation easements, which are a non-confrontational technique for saving open space and wildlife habitat. A conservation easement is a written agreement between a landowner and a government agency or nonprofit organization that permanently limits development of land. Easements enable owners to protect their land while continuing to own it. They can also qualify owners for certain income tax deductions, and reduce property and estate taxes.

Protecting rare wetland and prairie communities, many of which are threatened, is a priority for CorLands. CorLands administers three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers programs that fund wetland acquisition and restoration. Two provide grants to nonprofit organizations and local governments to buy and improve wetlands throughout northeastern Illinois. One specifically targets wetlands and associated habitats in the lower Des Plaines River Valley in Will and Cook counties.

CorLands works with local officials and landowners to develop strategies for acquiring land for open space and recreational purposes. It examines how a local government's acquisition opportunities relate to other communities, planned corporate activities and funding sources. It helps corporations and landowners find ways to achieve business and personal goals, while providing open space for public enjoyment.