Activists plan rally for Bell Bowl Prairie at Rockford airport

February 23, 2022|By Kevin Haas|In Local, Rockford, Top Stories
Advocates for a movement to save the Bell Bowl Prairie from destruction under an airport expansion rally on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, outside the Winnebago County courthouse in Rockford. The group announced a federal lawsuit aimed at temporarily halting the expansion. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A coalition of residents and conservationists plan to rally outside the Chicago Rockford International Airport on Thursday as the countdown for construction to resume on a project that could flatten an ancient prairie enters its final days.

Airport officials previously agreed to halt construction of a $50 million expansion until March 1 after an endangered rusty patched bumblebee was found on the site in August. Last week, Airport Director Mike Dunn said he expected construction to resume on that date.

Related: Rockford airport works to land new passenger destinations

Conservationists have been working for about six months to halt construction until a new plan can be created that would allow for airport expansion while preserving the Bell Bowl Prairie, a rare dry gravel prairie.

“Illinois has less than 0.01% of its original prairie left, and Bell Bowl is one of those few remaining remnants,” the group said in announcing the rally.

Watch: Full State of the Airport address by Mike Dunn

The demonstration is being held ahead of an airport board meeting slated for that night.

The rally will start at 4 p.m. outside the Chicago Rockford International Airport, 60 Airport Drive.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.