There have been several occasions during my 13-year tenure as president of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s Board of Commissioners when public and private agencies have turned to the district to satisfy their land needs. The most recent such request comes from the Canadian National Railway Co., which desires to purchase approximately 1 acre at Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve in Wayne as part of its planned acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern rail lines.

My response to this proposal is no different than it has been to others like it: The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is not a land bank for anybody, not for school districts or municipalities and certainly not for the railroads. In fact, I firmly believe that the benefits provided by the district’s 25,000 acres of open space are of equal value to any public service, utility, freight or transportation corridor.

Forest preserves provide a sense of community and instill a sense of peace. These valuable natural areas protect wildlife and watersheds, purify the air, buffer noise and provide valuable learning experiences for visitors of all ages. They reduce traffic congestion and increase property values.

The legislation passed in 1913 that enables the creation of forest preserve districts in Illinois is a clear mandate that gives the authority to acquire and hold lands — not to sell or swap them. Furthermore, the Canadian National Railway Co. does not have legal authority to condemn district-owned property.

I can assure you that as long as I am president, the Forest Preserve District will continue to serve the best interests of its residents by protecting the open spaces in DuPage County.

D. “Dewey” Pierotti Jr., president, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County