Jingle Hike Reflections

573+

Jingle Hike Challenge Participants 1Dog Registered

500+

Bells found Thanksgiving weekend 2,879 Bell-finds @ 12 sites 273Hikers found 6+ bells for a chance at 2 Grand Prizes

90

Hikers found all 12 bells in 5 counties

RECAP #JINGLEHIKE

Reflection

We had so much fun putting together Jingle Hike 2021! Our staff came up with 12 extraordinary places in southwestern Illinois to explore during the holiday season. Jingle bells were tied to 12 trees in parks throughout the region from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. Participants were encouraged to visit as many parks as possible, take selfies with the bell, and submit proof using the QR code to win prizes from our sponsors. Winners were announced in early January, and we gave away some fantastic prizes.

We enjoyed hearing about your experiences and seeing your pictures of the beautiful memories and discoveries you made over Natural Resources

the holidays. Your stories show how important it is to preserve our regional natural wonders. This challenge wouldn‘t have been so successful without YOU! Thank you for your care and love of nature in southwestern Illinois.

We can‘t wait to see you for Jingle Hike 2022!

- HLC Staff

2021 Jingle Hike Locations:

1. SIUE Nature Preserve, Edwardsville

Site Host: SIUE | Sponsor: Lochmuller Group

3. Highland Silver Lake Park, Highland

Site Host: City of Highland

4. Wilson Park, Granite City

Site Host: Granite City Park District

5. Arlington Wetlands, Pontoon Beach

Site Host: Madison County

6. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville

Site Host: Illinois Department of Natural Resources | Sponsor: Bauerhaus Design

2. Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Hartford

Site Host: Illinois Department of

7. Engelmann Farm Park, Shiloh

Site Host: St. Clair County

Thank you to all the locations, sponsors and bell sponsors for participating in the challenge!

8. Gateway East Trestle Trail, Lebanon

Site Host: Gateway East Trails

9. St. Clair County Greenspace Bluff Park Preserve, Belleville

Site Host: St. Clair County Greenspace Foundation

10. Waterloo Reservoir Trail, Waterloo

Site Host: Waterloo Park District / Sponsor: Property Peddler

11. Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve, Ava

Site Host: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

12. Kinkaid Lake Trail, Ava

Site Host: US Forest Service – Shawnee National Forest

Engelmann Farm

2021 Jingle Hike Tree Answers

Chinkapin Oak (SIUE) Sugar Maple (Lewis & Clark SHS) Osage Orange (Silver Lake) Willow Oak (Wilson Park)

River Birch (Arlington Wetlands) Sycamore (Cahokia Mounds) Hackberry (Engelmann Farm) Black Locust (Trestle Trail)

Black Cherry (Bluff Park Preserve) Shagbark Hickory (Waterloo) Eastern Red Cedar (Piney Creek Ravine)

American Beech (Kinkaid Lake Trail)

2021 Jingle Hike Winners & Prizes

$150 Alpine Shop Gift Card Leslie Lindauer

$100 Alpine Shop Gift Card Mara Howitz

$50 Alpine Shop Gift Card Vicki Cocker

Camp Ondessonk Two-Night Retreat Kim Muin

$50 Certificate to Sandy‘s Back Porch Rebecca Sabatino

Toolen‘s Running Start Hoodie Katie Wiesehan • Janice Wiegmann Lori Blade • Grant Galle

Touch of Nature Adventure Package Gina Sheridan

Engelmann Farm

Engelmann Farm

Engelmann Farm is the former 1833 homestead of Friedrich Engelmann, who represented the first significant surge of German migration to Illinois. The 143-acre Engelmann Farm was purchased by HeartLands Conservancy in 2007 to eventually be dedicated as a county park. This property, which sits on one of the highest points in the region, contains two historic houses, eighty acres of high-quality woods, and the balance in farmland. A paved walking trail is available. The property is now owned and managed by St. Clair County.

Piasa Creek Mitigation Area

!! ! ! ! I J 67 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Camp Warren Levis

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Homer Adams Park ! ! !

Rolling Hills Golf Course Godfrey Ball Park

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¹ º

!¹ º !VADALABENEGREATRIVERROADBIKEWAY ! r ! r ! r ! Alton-Wood River Sportsman's Club ¹ º The ! GREATRIVERROADNATIONALSCENICBYWAY Nature Institute Piasa Bird Elijah P. Lovejoy Alton ! Monument Riverfront Park

VFW Post 1308

Glazebrook ! Community Park ! Captain Jake Ringering Park at Clifton Terrace

! Hoffman Gardens at Great Rivers Park

DE. WID M AN TRAIL E R F River-Aire LaVista Park Swim Club ! Summers Port Swim Club! Gilson Brown School Evangelical School ! Nautilus Fitness Center Acquired Park Land

Lewis & Clark Elementary School ! ? @ 111

North

Elementary

Alton Senior ? @ 3 High School ! St. Ambrose School ? @ 143

? @ 267 ? @ 255 ? @ 100 ! ? @ 140

! I J 67

¹ º School ! r Swim facility Railway Godfrey municipal boundary Greenway ! ! ! ! Water Trail Existing public parks Other open space or recreational site Parcels protected by others 1/2 mile park service area 1/2 mile buffer, other sites Area in need of park land

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

ST CHARLES COUNTY ST CHARLES COUNTY MISSOURI MISSOURI ! ! ! ! ! Bike facility, proposed (MEPRD) Bike facility, existing Bike facility, in progress Walking trail, existing Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan Route 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

PIASA ISLAND F N

Miles

Sources: Esri, USGS, NOAA

Godfrey ParksReimagined

Imagine crossing the Mississippi River between Alton and Grafton, catching the sight of pelicans swirling in the updraft of the bluffs, cycling along the Valadabene Trail in Godfrey’s River’s Edge Park on the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, and winding through the Piasa Creek watershed on top of the bluffs through the fields of yellow wildflowers. What a view! Stop for rest at the expanded Glazebrook Park splash pad. Grab a snack and a drink. Can you see it?

In 2020, the HLC Team (HeartLands Conservancy) and MECO~Heneghan Engineers (MHE) were charged with two concurrent tasks for the Village of Godfrey: first, to develop an updated comprehensive plan for the park system; and second, to assist the Village in planning and implementing the expansion of Glazebrook Park through an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). As reported in Fall/Winter 2021 Meanderings, Godfrey broke ground on the expansion project and is well on the way to pickleball tournaments later this year.

Funded in part by a grant from the Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD), the 2030 Comprehensive Parks and Open Space Plan was developed to address and guide the Village‘s needs and the connectivity of neighborhoods, trails, and parks based on community input. The 2030 Plan process analyzed current conditions of the park system and served to inspire the community to envision what the park system’s future could look like. Where are the future parks for kids to play? With this in mind, the planning process helped the Village: • Assess current recreation facilities and identify recreation needs in the community; • Predict future demand and evaluate feasibility options; • Develop a strategic plan of action; and • Identify potential costs and sources of funding.

Using information provided by HLC, residents developed a vision and goals for the park and open space system. The plan provides strategies and recommendations based on that vision.

Lastly, an action strategy links related funding opportunities. MHE developed the opinion of probable construction costs in conjunction with HeartLands Conservancy.

Protect natural resources. The Village is rich in active recreation (team sports) with 278 acres of parkland and the conservation of natural sites (1,205 acres, including 597 acres in private conservation). In an area rich in natural resources with over 7,700 acres of undulating forests and over 270 acres in wetlands, protection of the tree canopy and watershed ranked high with the community.

More parks on the east side.

Increase the number of smaller parks located near or connected to neighborhoods, especially the east side.

Embrace the Village’s riverfront. Did you know Godfrey has 4.4 miles of riverfront? What an opportunity!

Fifty-one miles of bicycle facilities and pedestrian connectivity.

There are currently 18 miles of bicycle facilities and walking trails (including the Sam B. Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail at 4.4 miles of Godfrey River frontage). HLC completed the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan for Godfrey a few years ago, and it was incorporated as part of the plan.

Increase and formalize public/

private partnerships to put the plan into action, increase community vitality, and further develop Godfrey‘s regional identity. The changes and improvements outlined in the 2030 Plan require careful coordination so that the Village may successfully continue the ongoing development and expansion of the park system, programming, and human resources. Special thanks to the Village of Godfrey residents, Mayor Michael J. McCormick, elected officials, administrators Rich Beran, Village Engineer, Chris Logan, Director of Parks & Recreation, and Todd Schubert, Past Director of Parks & Recreation, community leaders, staff, and stakeholders, for without their insight, support and enthusiasm, HeartLands Conservancy could not have completed the plan. With gratitude to Metro East Park and Recreation District for their generous support through their grant program to assist communities.

To discuss community or park planning opportunities, contact Jenny Reiman, Resilient Communities Program Manager, at 618-566-4451 x 16 jenny.reiman@ heartlandsconservancy.org.

Red Bud Dog Wood

We here at HeartLands Conservancy are all about trees. Why? Because trees are vitally important to our planet and our wellbeing. Find out the benefits of trees, what HeartLands is doing to raise awareness and help reforest Southern Illinois, and how you can help.

The Benefits of Trees

There are many benefits to trees. Most people are familiar with how trees produce oxygen through photosynthesis. But did you know that trees also clean our air by absorbing odors and pollutant gasses, such as carbon dioxide, through their leaves and storing it in their bark and roots? The benefits of trees don’t stop there! Trees are also crucial in…

• Cooling streets and communities by providing shade and releasing water vapor through their leaves. • Reducing electric bills by cutting air conditioning needs in the summer.

• Lowering water bills by slowing water evaporation from the lawn.

• Reducing water pollution and soil erosion.

• Healing! Patients with trees outside of their hospital windows heal faster than those without trees. Neighborhoods that have more trees are less violent than barren ones.

• Providing important food, shelter, and cover for wildlife.

For example, the federally endangered native pollinator, the

Northern Long-Eared bat roosts and forages in upland forest trees during the spring and summer.

Tree Week 2022

From Earth Day to Arbor Day, HeartLands Conservancy will celebrate trees in a BIG way! During Metro East Tree Week 2022, we will spread the message far and wide about the benefits trees provide, and there will be activities for people of all ages. Throughout the week, HeartLands Conservancy will also give over 175 trees to local communities.

Friday, April 22 at 6:30 pm:

Earth Day Exclusive White Oak Society Earth Day Tour of Poag Sand Prairie. Invitations will be sent to White Oak members.

Metro East

Tree Week

Trees! Trees! Trees!

Monday, April 25:

Community Tree Distribution Day Free trees for communities and community organizations for planting in public places.

Tree ID Class

Tuesday, April 26 at 6:30 pm:

Tree ID Course and Walk-about at HeartLands Conservancy’s office A short course open to the public on how to identify trees and a sunset city walk around Belleville to put your skills to the test. Registration required. See our website.

Wednesday, April 27:

Kids Experience Day with Fairmont City Schools Fairmont City schools will be involved in local and hands-on restoration efforts to improve their community through reforestation and wetland preservation.

Thursday, April 28 at 1:00 pm:

Tree City USA Informational Session A one-hour virtual seminar for municipalities on how to become a Tree City USA, and how HeartLands Conservancy can help. See our website for more information.

Jamie Bossart & Students at OTHS

Friday, April 29:

Tree Planting Day (Arbor Day) Tree planting in communities.

Saturday, April 30:

HLC Native Plant Sale Order Pickup Check out heartlandsconservancy. org/native-plant-sale/ for event registration.

Metro East Tree Week 2021 Impact

The 2nd Annual Metro East Tree Week was a great success. HeartLands Conservancy gave away over 1,000 trees to local communities and individuals throughout the week! Most trees were planted in public places in Collinsville, O’Fallon, Swansea, and Belleville.

How You Can Help Become a Tree Steward

Are you interested in learning how to plant, monitor, and care for the trees in your community? Consider becoming a Tree Steward! No prior experience is needed. Tree Stewards are trained volunteers who help plant, monitor, and care for new trees in southwestern Illinois communities. Tree Stewards complete a six-week virtual training program, meeting one hour a week to learn about trees, their benefits and care, and learning practical hands-on skills in six key areas: • Tree identification • Biology • Soils • Planting • Pruning • Insects & Diseases After completing the training, Tree Stewards will plant and care for a tree provided by HeartLands Conservancy. Graduates of the Tree Steward Program receive a free t-shirt and certificate of participation. We ask that Tree Stewards provide 24 hours of volunteer service annually in community forests, parks, and HLC projects such as the Swansea Exploration Garden. If you are interested in the Tree Steward Program or volunteering with HeartLands Conservancy, please complete the Volunteer Application located on our website at https://heartlandsconservancy. org/volunteer/.

For questions, please contact Brittany Schweiger at brittany. schweiger@heartlandsconservancy. org or call 618-566-4451 ex. 25.

SWANSEA EXPLORATION GARDEN

Located just south of Fletcher’s Kitchen and Tap in Swansea at the Clinton Hills Conservation Park is the Swansea Exploration Garden. HeartLands Conservancy began the transformation of the front section of this former golf course into a public demonstration garden and outdoor classroom. The 6-acre garden will feature wildflower meadows, native plant exhibits, interactive art, and rainwater demonstrations. Transformation of the site began in 2020, and a majority should be completed by the end of the year!