Arnold Randall, the general administrator of the Cook County Forest Preserve District, addresses the audience at the forest preserve’s public meeting in June of 2014 on what should be done with Horizon Farms at Countryside Elementary School. (Daily Herald Staff Photographer)
By Eric Peterson | Daily Herald
Cook County Forest Preserve District General Superintendent Arnold Randall has announced plans to step down next month, ending a distinct and productive 13-year tenure.
He will become the next executive director of the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, whose mission is supporting land conservation, artistic vitality and the regional collections of often overlooked people in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
ince Randall’s appointment by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the forest preserve district has forged an ambitious Next Century Conservation Plan, celebrated its centennial, developed new strategic plans for its trails and habitat restoration, strengthened its partnerships including through the creation of an advisory Conservation and Policy Council, and opened five new campgrounds.
Randall credited Preckwinkle for providing the political will to improve the reputation of all aspects of Cook County government, including ending the practice of making the forest preserves a patronage dumping ground and embracing its original mission of land conservation and investment in equitable accessibility to natural areas.
About 15% of today’s trail system in the county’s preserves has been built during Randall’s tenure.
“The trails get millions and millions of visitors,” he said. “We recognized that improving that trail system was very important. … We looked at places where there had been a historic lack of investment.”
Read more here.
Related: “Forest Preserves of Cook County Fully Opens Northwest Cook County’s Horizon Farm Preserve”
The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold their monthly meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. The only item of note on their agenda is a, “Truth in Taxation Ordinance,” and, of course, no further information is provided. Truth without transparency is worthless.
