Plants of Air Station Prairie
Over 160 plant species have been identified at Air Station Prairie, including two Illinois state-endangered species. Plant communities range from wetlands to upland prairies. The species in these communities come into bloom at different times of the season, so the eye-catching flower colors on the prairie change continuously from April through September. In fall and winter many prairie grass stems exhibit beautiful hues. The North Branch Restoration Project manages the plant communities to preserve and restore plant populations and animal habitat.

Animals of Air Station Prairie
Air Station Prairie is home to numerous animal species, some of which are highly dependent on prairie habitat. A sampling of animal species presumed to be breeding residents of the prairie includes the Devil crayfish, the Prairie crayfish, the Plains garter snake, the painted turtle, the American toad, the Western chorus frog, the short-tailed shrew, the savannah sparrow, the red-winged blackbird, and the Silphium root-borer moth. Other animals, including raccoons, coyotes, deer, and sora rails, are at least visitors to the prairie.

What are those purple flowers?
In some wetland areas, particularly on the southern end of the site, extensive stands of purple loosestrife have taken hold. This plant, introduced from Europe, has become extremely invasive in North American wetlands, threatening native vegetation because of its uncontrolled growth. To bring the populations down to acceptable levels, researchers have recently begun to release European beetles that feed exclusively on purple loosestrife leaves. Over 50,000 of these tiny insects have been released at Air Station Prairie. Many of the beetles were reared and released by fourth grade students at Pleasant Ridge school. More information about purple loosestrife and biological control of the plant using beetles and other insects can be found at the Illinois Natural History Survey’s website.

Wetland Restoration
On the eastern end of the site, the U.S. Navy had distributed a great deal of fill material across the landscape. On the northeastern end, much of the fill had to be deeply excavated and replaced with topsoil. On the southeastern end, fill was scraped away to the level of the original topsoil, following the natural contours of the land. Once the earthwork was complete, the entire area was seeded with wetland and upland seed mixes, according to topography. In three areas in which standing water tends to collect, several wetland plant species were transplanted.

Volunteer Opportunities
The North Branch Restoration Project welcomes volunteers interested in indoor and outdoor work, including vegetation management and monitoring, publications and publicity, and education. Each year, the group schedules several workdays at the Air Station Prairie. As programs at Air Station Prairie develop, volunteer opportunities will increase.

North Branch Restoration Project Nature Walks:

TBD

North Branch Restoration Project Work Days:

TBD

Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center
Set amidst 32.5 acres of pristine prairie, the Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center, which marked its formal debut on April 14, 2007,  serves as both gateway and guide to the Air Station Prairie -- and as an example of how man made structures can harmonize with the environment.  The Tyner Center is open during the summer from 9 am to 3 pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Beginning August 19, 2007, the center will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. In November, the center will be open Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

While the interior of the Center provides teaching and storage space, visitors don’t need to enter to learn. Interpretive panels on the outer walls provide information on local plants and animals, wetlands, soil conservation and gardening. Surrounding the Center are a number of “interpretive zones,” including a wetland deck, a sidewalk time line and history wall, and paths extending around the prairie.

From its inception, the Tyner Center was envisioned as a “green” building. Its roof, for example, features both vegetated and solar panel sections, and the building incorporates a geothermal heating and cooling system.

How green is it? The nationally accepted benchmark for rating “greenness” is the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.

Buildings can be “LEED certified” at a number of levels, and we’re proud to report that the Tyner Center has been certified at the Gold Level. This means that as the USGBC review of documentation continues, it may be possible for the building to qualify for the highest certification: Platinum Level.

The Tyner Center is a collaboration of many organizations. Although much of it was funded out of The Glen Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, the Village had a little help from its friends, as well.

Catellus Development Corporation (now ProLogis), which has partnered with the Village to develop the Prairie Glen Corporate Campus just north of the Air Station Prairie, donated $140,000, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) awarded the project a $120,493 grant. The Illinois Clean Energy Foundation (ICEF) also played a part, chipping in with $104,310.

Both the Air Station Prairie and the Tyner Center were transferred by the Village to the Glenview Park District,   an expert in stewarding natural resources. Much as it has done for the Grove and Wagner Farm, the Park District will be developing a program plan for the prairie and the Center that ensures Glenview residents and visitors can enjoy this special place to the fullest.

More information about Illinois prairies is available at the Illinois State Museum website.

Contact:

Glenview Park District
1930 Prairie Street
Glenview, Illinois 60025-2800
(847) 657-3215
www.glenviewparkdist.org