The Lake County Forest Preserves Board spent $450,000 on Wednesday, Sept. 9, to add 4.6 acres to the preserve surrounding the county's largest heron and egret rookery in Antioch Township.

The purchase brings Lotus Country Conservation Preserve to about 80 acres. It is funded by the $155 million referendum Lake County voters, including those in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, approved in November 2024.

The parcel sits at the northwest corner of Rena and Highland avenues, about a half mile south of Grass Lake Road. It borders the existing preserve on two sides, adding a protective ring around nesting habitat that supports herons and egrets.

"While this is a small purchase, it's a significant one because we don't have many opportunities to expand this preserve," said Ty Kovach, executive director of the Lake County Forest Preserves. "Every adjacent acre can make a difference when we're protecting a sensitive natural area like this."

No parking lots or trails will be added. The Forest Preserves said in its announcement that the new land will improve staff access while keeping the rookery undisturbed.

The property includes a residence and other buildings. The district will inspect them to determine whether they can be repurposed or must be removed.

How the preserve grew

The Forest Preserves created Lotus Country in 2024 with a 41-acre purchase along Grass Lake Road. That land included wetlands, wooded areas and rookery habitat. The district designated it a conservation preserve because of its ecological sensitivity, meaning it is managed to protect natural resources rather than for recreation.

A second acquisition in 2025 added 34.2 acres along Rena Avenue. The Sept. 9 purchase is the third expansion in three years.

The preserve's name traces to the early 1900s, when extensive beds of American lotus drew visitors to the Grass Lake area.

The Lake County Forest Preserves manages more than 31,900 acres across the county, making it the second-largest forest preserve district in Illinois, according to Patch. Completing referendum-funded projects is among the district's top priorities through 2030, according to a strategic plan adopted in August 2026.

Buildings on the newly acquired property are the only outstanding item. No timeline for the inspections has been announced.