2025 – Central Tri-State Tollway (294)

 

Along the Central Tri-State (I-294) there are:

    • 37 county-level Forest Preserves
    • 151 municipal parks
    • 0 ha of public lands in the RPBB High Potential Zone
    • 292 ha of public lands in the RPBB Low Potential Zone
    • 197.5 ha of public lands with at least 51% canopy cover
    • 24 stream crossings
    • 957 ha of 485 wetlands

Within 1 mile, there are:

  • 65 EORs of 48 species — 37 EORs (27 species) are contemporary
    • 2 federally protected species with contemporary EORs
      ▷ Rusty Patched Bumblebee (RPBB; endangered)
      ▷ Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid (EPFO; threatened)
  • 11 Illinois Nature Preserve Commission sites (INPCs)
    • Chicago Ridge Prairie Nature Preserve, Dropseed Prairie Nature Preserve, Gensburg-Markham Prairie Nature Preserve and additions, Kennicott’s Grove Nature Preserve, Markham Prairie – East, Paintbrush Prairie Nature Preserve, Salt Creek Woods Nature Preserve, Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve, Sundrop Prairie Nature Preserve and additions, Thornton-Lansing Road Zanders Woods Nature Preserve, and Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve and additions.
  • 14 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory sites
    • Carle Woods, Dropseed Prairie, Elizabeth Conkey Woods, Fullersburg Woods Nature Center, Gensburg – Markham Prairie, Kennicott’s Grove, Markham Prairie – East, Paintbrush Prairie, Santa Fe Prairie, Sundrop Prairie, Thornton – Lansing Road, Volbrecht Road Woods, Wampum Lake Seepage Area, and Wolf Road Prairie