Frequently Asked Questions

This is a community-centered space, welcoming all community members to enjoy trails, interpretive signage and hands-on activities. Access to green space provides excellent opportunities to foster environmental stewardship, strengthen physical and mental health, improve watershed, support pollinators and act as a living classroom for all. This prairie restoration space will set DeKalb as a regional leader in conservation and sustainability by having the largest urban nature reserve in this area of the state.

This project will be located on a plot of land commonly known as the “North 40.” Currently this land is used by NIU Marching Band and NIU Cross Country, as well as local residents for recreation. This roughly 45 acres of land also includes two small plots of land owned by the DeKalb Park District, which will be utilized by this project and act as a public access point.

Yes! There will be ample walking trails, space that remains turf-grass for various activities like flying kites or events, and more.  As a public university, members of the public are always welcome on campus.

This project is being overseen by a group of community advisors from different organizations in DeKalb, NIU departments and community members at large. NIU Campus Sustainability, Office of the President, is the main contact on the project but it relies heavily on its partners.

Prairie restorations are years long, hands-on projects. We must assess the land for site characteristics that influence the restoration process, prepare the site for winter sowing of seeds and provide continued care throughout the life of the project. Ecological management of a prairie may include periodic mowing, invasive species removal, controlled burns and general biodiversity assessments.

The initial phase of restoring a prairie takes three to five years. There is a common saying (“sleep, creep, leap”) that explains the first three to five years of a prairie. Initial progress is slow but by years three to five, a prairie restoration will take full shape. The first three years will be managed by an ecological restoration company to ensure proper management.

Prairies consist of grasses, sedges, rushes and a variety of wildflowers. Most of these plants are perennial, meaning they will continue to grow every year. Prairies are also vital homes to many different species of wildlife, including small mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, bats and more. Many prairie plant species are used as host plants. These host plants serve as the primary plant for feeding and reproduction for wildlife. One such example is milkweed and monarch butterflies. Without milkweed, monarchs cannot survive.

While there are no direct impacts, an urban prairie such as the Community Prairie restoration project provides many benefits for its neighbors. One such benefit is potential flood mitigation. The area being restored is in a flood zone and prairies act as a sponge with their incredibly deep root system. This could have a positive impact on the prairie’s neighbors, as the prairie may act as a barrier and reduce flooding. There are also many physical and mental health benefits to living and interacting with greenspaces.

An urban nature reserve can become a robust habitat for many species, including wildlife. For neighboring residents, this will provide an amazing opportunity to see a range of species up close, including large birds like hawks. Small mammals that live in prairies are specialists and are not well adapted for urban environments. So, while the prairie will likely be home to small mammals such as deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) or voles (Microtus ochrogaster), these species are prairie specialists who require thick vegetation to survive and would be very unlikely to enter backyards with lawns. They may, in fact, outcompete the more common house mice (Mus musculus) species that commonly enter homes in urban areas.