Your turn: Small changes to Rockford airport expansion plan would save Bell Bowl Prairie

During the Save Bell Bowl Prairie meeting on Sept. 8, a consultant with the Geosyntec engineering firm presented a solution to preserving the Bell Bowl Prairie while continuing with the Greater Rockford Airport Authority’s ongoing expansion plan.

Based on the Chicago Rockford International Airport’s own design proposals laid out in their 2022 Biological Assessment in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, Geosyntec’s environmental engineers proposed small changes to the airport’s own designs that would meet the needs of the expanding airport while saving the remainder of Bell Bowl Prairie that has not already been destroyed.

This can be easily done. Change your minds Mike Dunn and Paul Cicero.

Their plan would involve combining several of the Airport’s proposed design alternatives. These can be viewed at the website below. The report noted that it is possible to shift the proposed cargo building to the west, where there is ample land area to accommodate the 1 million square foot building.

The proposed plan would also route the road around the prairie and reduce the speed limit on this short internal road to meet safety guidelines.

This is a great opportunity to easily re-design. Change your minds Mike and Paul.

In conversations between prairie advocates and Sen. Dick Durbin’s office, the Senator’s staff have committed to assisting the airport in applying for an appropriation for federal funding to redesign the road and for construction so that the prairie can be spared.

Bring in the big bucks to Rockford. Change your minds Mike and Paul.

This solution would allow for the resumption of construction on the expansion without further lawsuits. In late August, Judge Ian Johnston recommended that the airport enter into mediated talks with prairie advocates but the airport has rejected this advice.

Stop wasting taxpayer money on litigation. Change your minds Mike and Paul.

This is a solution for a win-win. A win for nature, and a win for the airport and a win for the City of Rockford. Nature can no longer afford to compromise. We are nature’s voice. Illinois used to be the prairie state. It now has less than 1/100th of 1% of prairie left.

There are only 18 acres of high quality gravel prairie left in the entire state of Illinois. The ancient, 8,000 year old Bell Bowl Prairie is one of those sites.

This is no longer just a local issue. The continued destruction of nature is NOT necessary. There are always solutions, and all that is needed is open minds.

As the voice for the prairie, we will not compromise. Instead, we offer a win-win solution for the people of Rockford and the people of Illinois.

Anyone can destroy something, often without awareness. It is the creative minds that choose a new way. It is the creative minds that are forever remembered and lauded.

Don’t let destruction be Rockford’s legacy. Change your minds Mike and Paul.

This re-design would take only a couple of months. The airport has good, competent engineers who can then implement the necessary process to proceed with construction.

This application for a federal appropriation needs to be prepared soon, with two important requirements. These are that the prairie will be permanently protected and that it will be managed by a qualified natural resource organization. Senator Durbin’s appropriations staff is waiting to assist. The airport needs to initiate the appropriation application process.

Stop an indefinite delay in expanding the airport and contact Senator Durbin’s office. Change your minds Mike and Paul.

Many people ask, how can I help? If you would like to support the Save Bell Bowl Prairie campaign expenses, you can donate to the GoFundMe page, link below. All donations are gratefully received, and are a way that you can have an immediate impact.

Other ways you can help are on the Save Bell Bowl Prairie website, including becoming an ambassador for the prairie. There is a wealth of resources there to answer all your questions.

Open your minds and your hearts Mike and Paul, and we can be your partners once again in protecting this ancient, irreplaceable and magical place.

Kerry Leigh is the executive director of the Natural Land Institute.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: Small changes to Rockford airport expansion plan would save Bell Bowl Prairie