The ParkLands Foundation is welcoming a new executive director.
Craig Lutes became the first to work in the newly-established role in August. The Normal-based nonprofit aims to protect the watershed in the Upper Mackinaw River Valley. That includes northern McLean County and Woodford County. The foundation owns some property, maintains natural areas along the river including trails and woodlands and their ecosystems. Lutes said a focus for the organization is to keep these wilderness areas accessible for people to continue to visit.
Lutes is beginning his time in the new role with a task of implementing the foundation’s new strategic plan. Over the next five years the foundation aims to hire new staff — communications, legal and a director of stewardship — and add new office and facilities space. Currently there are three full-time employees at the foundation, in addition to approximately 20-25 volunteers. Also planned are additions of new restrooms.
“We're going to invite people out to these preserves; we need to make sure it's a positive experience,” said Lutes. "So there, you can imagine a building with restrooms and potential meeting space, and a place for our volunteers to gather and feel taken care of.”
One particular place in need of work is at Merwin Preserve, east of Lexington. The equipment shed there is showing signs of age.
“It is not an adequate facility. That building is not going to last us into the foreseeable future,” said Lutes. “That will be our focus, both from its accessibility, its value as a stewardship hub operating center there at Merwin and because that's where we get most of our guest traffic as well.”
Lutes worked for about a decade in corporate finance before working as a science teacher at Deer Creek-Mackinaw Junior High School.
“So this position here to me is a convergence of the professional experience in the corporate world and through the classroom, connecting with kids and the families, and then also that emphasis on biology, ecology and the sciences,” said Lutes.
Managing biodiversity
Invasive species are a problem that Lutes does not expect to go away. The Autumn Olive and Honeysuckle found within the river valley block sunlight from reaching native plants. Other plants like Lespedeza crowd out the native prairie ecosystem.
“We dedicate so much time and resources to managing some of that,” said Lutes.
At Merwin, an Illinois State University study has been researching House Wrens for the past four decades. There are about 700 bird houses throughout the park area.
“It's almost like an outdoor laboratory to see when do those birds show up, when do they leave and other behavioral changes that could feed our understanding of the impacts of a changing climate,” said Lutes.
Lutes said a committee on the foundation’s board has kept property development from happening on its preserves. He said he would hope to do the same if another instance were to occur.
Sustaining the foundation
The ParkLands foundation is funded through grants, donations and membership fees. There are about 350-400 members who each pay at least $50 annually to support conservation efforts.
In the next decade, Lutes said he would like to see more people becoming aware of and utilizing the parks. He would also like to add more volunteers for the parks.
