Our History
The Butterfield Preservation Foundation evolved from a grass roots movement in support of the Butterfield Park District’s efforts to preserve open space and land acquisition. In 2015 The Friends of Butterfield Parks, a group of committed citizens organized themselves in an effort to secure a parcel of land that was adjacent to Glenbriar Park, one of the District’s largest parks and home to their community recreation and aquatics center. This group of local citizens implemented an educational process throughout the community in order to secure the funding for acquiring one of the last open space opportunities in the community and preserve the integrity of all of the park districts properties and amenities throughout the district. This effort resulted in the passing of a community wide referendum by more than 70% of the voting community in favor of funding these efforts. Our community chose to preserve open space land acquisition and development over commercial development of this land.
Three years later, this effort is overwhelmingly successful and all of the parks and facilities have been redeveloped and improved, new park district land has been purchased on the corner of Route #56 and #53, and phase one of the development will be completed in early 2018 transformation this “community eyesore” into a beautiful treasure for the Butterfield Community.
As the three year effort of these projects was winding down, it became abundantly clear that there was a significant need to preserve and protect these parks for future generations as well as to seek additional open space, land acquisition for our community as the opportunity presents itself.
To that end, The Butterfield Preservation Foundation was formed and organized as a Federally Recognized 501(c) (3) Not for Profit Corporation and a Charitable Agency “In Good Standing” In the State of Illinois. The Founding Board Members were the driving force behind the Former Friends of the Parks and are committed to creating a thriving organization for the purpose of preserving, conserving, supporting and protecting the Butterfield Park District community, and in doing so enhancing the quality of live for the children and families throughout the community. The Foundation was formally created on August 10th, 2017.