DuPage County Forest Preserve District officials have finally acquired a long-sought 34.9-acre horse farm in unincorporated Wheaton that the district considered a key parcel between the 797-acre Danada Forest Preserve and the 1,700-acre Morton Arboretum.
The district completed its $12 million acquisition of the Gladstone Ridge Horse Farm, located at 3S325 Leask Lane, on Nov. 26, after decades of attempts to acquire it from the Bolger family, which has owned the land since 1966.
The district has not yet decided how it will specifically use the property, which is bordered by the Danada Forest Preserve on its north and west sides, the Morton Arboretum and Sherwood Estates subdivision on its south side, and the Briarcliffe South subdivision on his side. east side. So far, the district’s only commitment is to demolish all structures on the property, including a 4,480-square-foot ranch-style home built in 1955.
District spokeswoman Beth Schirott said immediate plans also include removing any sidewalks such as driveways as well as “placing a memorial rock to honor the Bolger family.”
“There is parking at Danada that can be used to access the site,” she said. “Over the next few years, the district will update several individual forest reserve master plans, including the Danada plan. Public participation will play a critical role in developing these plans and may help identify other uses for the property, such as trails or gathering areas.
Schirott said the district is not currently planning a trail connection with the arboretum because the arboretum operates as a member-based organization. However, she added that the district has not yet had discussions with the arboretum about such a connection.
But that won’t stop plants and animals from taking advantage of this connection.
“The acquisition is an important step in improving connectivity within our nature reserve system and contributes to wildlife corridors, ecosystem health and biodiversity,” Schirott said. “We are excited about the possibilities and look forward to involving the community in planning the future of this valuable space.”
In a statement, Daniel Hebreard, president of the Forest Preserve District, welcomed the purchase, saying it “reflects our community’s values and commitment to conservation.”
“With public trust and support, we can ensure these lands remain protected and accessible for future generations while connecting two of DuPage County’s most beloved natural areas.” »
In a statement, Alicia LaVire, Morton Arboretum’s vice president of marketing and guest experience, said the arboretum “is pleased that the DuPage County Forest Preserve District has secured this critical corridor for conservation and wildlife.
The Gladstone Ridge property has a colorful past. In 1952, paper and printing executive Raymond P. Fischer, who was the grandson of Wheaton College founder Jonathan Blanchard, sold the land to union official Eugene C. James, who, according to the Tribune, 1961, had been a protégé of the famous union leader Jimmy. Hoffa. In 1955, James and his wife, Eleanore, built the house on the farm, but lived there only a short time, James having been convicted of embezzlement of $900,000 in bounties from the fund. union welfare and served nine months in a New Jersey prison before being released. for health reasons.
After James’ death in 1961, his widow sold the property – then known as Greengate Farms – and it was owned for several years by Town of Carol Stream founder Jay Stream before Vincent and Helen Bolger bought it in Stream in November 1966 as a residence.
The Bolgers considered developing the land several times. In 1976, the couple proposed annexing the land to Wheaton and seeking approval for up to 280 units. This project failed, but the couple continued to informally create relatively dense developments for the farm.
In 1987, the Tribune reported that the farm was on a $100 million land acquisition wish list compiled by the Forest Preserve District, sparking concerns from the Bolger family and horsemen who guarded their horses on the property. Then, in 1998, district commissioners voted on whether to negotiate the land, sparking an aggressive public relations campaign by the family, complete with a website and the slogan “Save the Bolger House.” on signs, buttons and pencils. A Forest Preserve District committee initially threatened to begin proceedings to condemn the property, but in March 1999, district officials abruptly abandoned their plan to acquire the land.
Helen Bolger died in 2006 and Vincent Bolger died in 2008. In 2022, the Bolgers’ children began soliciting bids to develop the land from local home builders. This prompted the Forest Preserve District to vote again in 2022 to begin negotiations to purchase the farm. Those efforts were blocked due to price, triggering a 2023 lawsuit filed by the Bolger family alleging the district’s vote could potentially limit private developers’ bids for the farm. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the district rescinded its resolution to attempt to acquire the land and the Bolger children dropped their lawsuit.
Earlier this year, the two sides resumed negotiations and finally agreed on the $12 million price tag.
Gladstone Ridge was easily the last private estate of any size in or near Wheaton. And the district’s acquisition of Gladstone Ridge is the second time in the past three years that a facility has acquired a good-sized plot of land on the east side of Leask Lane in unincorporated Wheaton. In 2022, the Morton Arboretum paid $5.1 million to purchase the 18-acre Stahelin property at 3S675 Leask, which was bordered on three sides by the arboretum. The arboretum has since removed all buildings from this property.
Bob Goldsborough is an independent journalist.
