The Forest Preserve District of Will County has acquired nearly 500 acres in eastern Will County that expands the Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve to 1,386 acres, making it the district’s second largest preserve.

The district recently bought 495.27 acres of land north of Illinois 394 and adjacent to the Goodenow Grove preserve in Crete Township for $4.3 million.

“It’s not too frequently a forest preserve or conservation foundation has the opportunity to acquire that much acreage,” said Dave Robson, the district’s natural resource management supervisor. “That’s a pretty unusual occurrence. We make acquisitions all the time, but not at this scale. This is a huge win.”

The acreage, known as the Book family property, is the district’s second largest property acquisition in its nearly 100 year

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