By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Advocates fighting to prevent Bell Bowl Prairie from being destroyed by an expansion of the Rockford airport rallied Thursday to celebrate the one-year anniversary of construction being halted at the site.
The Chicago Rockford International Airport initially temporarily halted its $50 million cargo expansion on Oct. 28, 2021, to allow for more environmental study after an endangered rusty patched bumblebee was found at the site that summer.
That construction has been further delayed, and the airport now says it won’t go forward until a federal review is complete. It’s unclear when that process will wrap up.
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“The fact that the prairie still stands one year later is a testament to the power of our collective voice,” Jillian Neece, a community organizer with Friends of Illinois Nature Preserve, told a group of more than 30. “The prairie has survived another growing season thanks to the actions of each person here and each person joining us from home.
“That’s one more year of flowers producing genetically diverse seeds. One more year of endangered bees foraging in the same place that they’ve been foraging for thousands of years. It’s one more year of birds stopping for a snack on the prairie before continuing their migration across the continent.”
Prairie supporters are continuing to push for the Greater Rockford Airport Authority to redesign its cargo expansion so that it can coexist with the rare gravel prairie.
“At any point in the last year, the airport could have directed their team to come up with a plan that would prioritize the prairie, as well as their expansion, but they haven’t,” Neece said. “They remain committed to destroying this land and refuse to justify their actions.”
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The airport’s expansion is estimated to create hundreds of construction jobs and generate up to 600 permanent jobs. It also is expected to help the airport continue its momentum as one of the fastest-growing cargo airports in the world.
The prairie supporters also attended Thursday’s meeting of the airport authority, with several addressing the board to continue to push for a redesign.
“All eyes are focused on the Greater Rockford Airport Authority to see what they do next,” Neece said.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.