Information | Environmental Action Team
Buffalo Grove is in the center of Chicago Wilderness, an area surprisingly rich in diversity and native species. Would you like to improve our local environment and meet other people with similar interests?
If so, join the Buffalo Grove Park District Environmental Action Team. We launched a floating island on Green Lake which will filter out pollutants to improve water quality and become a haven for native wetland plants and wildlife. Other ideas to improve the environment in Buffalo Grove just need your help in order to be realized.
If you have questions, please contact Jeff Weiss at environmental@bgpkr.org or (847) 224-0965.
Habitat Restoration Project In Buffalo Grove
The Buffalo Grove Park District sponsored a restoration project at Busch Grove Community Park on Saturday, May 30, 2010. The Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team is leading the work at Buffalo Grove’s largest park and natural area in order to create a healthier habitat for our native plants and animals.
The group cleaned up Mike Rylko Community Park by removing litter and invasive plants, and planted native species to improve biodiversity.
For more information on the Environmental Action Team, contact Jeff Weiss at environmental@bgparks.org or (847) 224-0965.
Mission Statement
The Environmental Action Team of Buffalo Grove strives to raise awareness, improve our community’s natural environment and encourage sustainability practices for present and future generations.
History of the Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team
August, 2008 - Inspiration for Environmental Action Team came out of the successful launch of a floating island on Green Lake. Jeff Weiss approached the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove and the Buffalo Grove Park District with the idea. They co-sponsored the project and a group of volunteers planted and launched the island in August 2008. Martha Weiss, then a Buffalo Grove Park District commissioner, was so impressed with the participants’ joyful energy, that she suggested that we have similar events. From this came the idea of an action team, a group of citizens who like to get outdoors and do worthwhile projects together.
February, 2009 - The first meeting of the Buffalo Grove Environmental Action Team. We brainstormed 12 projects to work on, and started planning our first project, which was an electronics recycling event.
April 25, 2009 - Electronics recycling event. We recruited more than 20 volunteers and collected 5 tons of computers and peripherals. A group of disabled youth collected cell phones and game consoles for resale on eBay. We also had table exhibits about rain barrels and community-supported agriculture.
June, 2009 - Thirty volunteers came out for our first workday at Busch Grove Community Park (now Mike Rylko Community Park). We removed brush and garlic mustard in the woodland across from the fitness center, and planted plugs of native plants. Members were filmed and interviewed for the video submitted by the Park District as part of their application for the National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award.
September, 2009 - The first Environmental Action Team informational booth at BG Days. We collected recyclables at our booth.
Fall, 2009 - Steve White conducted an energy audit of the lighting at the Alcott Center. A subsequent SEDAC (Smart Energy Design Assistance Center) review confirmed Steve’s findings and found other energy savings opportunities at the Alcott Center, which are being pursued by Park District staff.
January, 2010 - Environmental Action Team holiday party hosted by Susan Levy.
April, 2010 - We launched our participation in the Adopt-A-Highway program. We gather twice a year to clean up a designated section of Deerfield Parkway. Please contact Linda Spitz lindasu4@aol.com for more information.
Spring, 2010 - Two workdays were held at Mike Rylko Community Park, where we removed invasive plants and installed native plant plugs in the swale south of the Fitness Center.
June, 2010 - We submitted a position paper in support of proposed work to be done to improve water quality and habitat along Aspen Creek and at the Buffalo Creek Nature Preserve. Environmental Action Team members came out in force at the public meeting to present our position paper and offer assistance to the Village.
Summer, 2010 - We exhibited at the inaugural Buffalo Grove Farmers Market and National Night Out. Jeff Weiss was presented the 2010 Best Friend award by the Friends of the Parks Foundation on behalf of the Environmental Action Team.
September, 2010 - We organized festival-wide recycling initiative at Buffalo Grove Days. We are pleased to report that 2 dumpsters of recycled cans, bottles, and paper were collected. The Environmental Action Team is committed to having an even greater impact at the 2011 BG Days.
October, 2010 - We had our busiest month by far! We sponsored 4 events.
- Bike Event for the Global Work Party on 10/10/10 inspired by 350.org. A range of exhibits plus 60 bikes donated to Working Bikes Cooperative highlighted what we can do to reduce greenhouse gases and get fit.
- Electronics recycling at Siemens. 45-50,000 pounds of hardware was collected on a rainy Saturday. Based on this success, Siemens will host similar events in the future.
- Adopt-a-highway road cleanup. Deerfield Road is once again an attractive roadway that highlights our local environment.
- Habitat restoration. We planted several trays of prairie plants in our adopted area near the Fitness Center. More work is planned for spring, 2011.
Meeting Minutes
Click here to view the minutes of the November 3, 2011 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the September 22, 2011 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the August 25, 2011 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the April 5, 2011 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the March 1, 2011 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the December 2, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the November 2, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the September 30, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the August 26, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the July 27, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the June 24, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the April 29, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the April 1, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the February 25, 2010 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the November 19, 2009 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the October 15, 2009 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the August 20, 2009 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the May 14, 2009 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the April 16, 2009 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the March 19, 2009 meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the February 19, 2009 meeting.
Pictures from the April 25 Electronics Recycling Event.
