To Protect and Preserve: An Early History of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois, 1900-1930

Challenges

By 1905, Perkins and other proponents of a forest preserve district for Cook County seemed poised to realize their dream. They had published a report about the problems of urban life and and how park and natural spaces might resolve those problems. More important, they had gathered enough evidence and public support to get the attention of state legislators, who agreed to draft a referendum to create a forest preserve district.

Getting that referendum on the ballot was a major accomplishment for advocates. But it was only the first step in what turned out to be a twelve-year contest. Securing voter support was not the problem. What was harder was overcoming the legal challenges. This section of the exhibit explores how they did so.

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