How You Can Help

The Best Way to Help

  • Become a Bell Bowl Prairie Ambassador

    • Help engage communities to save the prairie

    • Hold outreach events

    • Learn more about the prairie and our fight

    Sign up here. Contact robbie@friendsilnature.org for more information.

Other Ways to Help

  • If you have an hour

    • Create a drawing, poem, or song and share it

    • Write a letter to your representative

Who to Contact

If you live in or near Rockford, contact your mayor:

If you live in Illinois, contact Governor JB Pritzker and Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth

  • Senator Dick Durbin: call 309-786-5173, 202-224-2152, 217-492-4062, send a message, and mail a letter to: 525 S. 8th Street, Springfield, IL

  • Senator Tammy Duckworth: 309-606-7060, 202-224-2854, or 217-528-6124, send a message, and mail a letter to: 8 South Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701

If you live elsewhere on planet Earth, contact Senator Dick Durbin and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

Example Call/Email/Letter Scripts

  • Hello,

    This is [NAME] and I live at ____ in Rockford. I am calling to ask that Mayor McNamara does everything in his power to prevent the destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie during the expansion of the Rockford Airport and publicly advocate for its official dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve.

    Bell Bowl Prairie is a Category One Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site. It is an ultra-rare natural area home to globally significant biodiversity and the federally-endangered rusty-patched bumblebee and a gem for the Rockford region. If destroyed under Mayor McNamara’s watch, this would be the first time an Illinois public agency has used public money to knowingly destroy such an important natural area. Luckily, the expansion can happen without destroying the prairie.

    In October, the Mayor applauded the decision by the Rockford Airport Board of Directors to temporarily pause construction and urged the board to have meaningful dialogue with all parties that takes into account the area’s natural resources. That has not happened and this includes those commissioners that were appointed by the Mayor.

    There are 3.6 million dollars available for the Rockford Airport in State “Rebuild Illinois” funds that can and should be used to redesign. If nothing changes, construction on the prairie is set to resume on October 15th based on the decision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. That's why I also urge the Mayor to use his voice and authority to publicly advocate for a win-win solution for Rockford’s people, economy, and globally-important biodiversity.

    Thank you for your time.

  • Hello,

    This is [NAME] and I live at ____ in Loves Park. I am calling to ask that Mayor Jury does everything in his power to prevent the destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie during the expansion of Rockford Airport and publicly advocate for its official dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve.

    Bell Bowl Prairie is a Category One Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site. It is an ultra-rare natural area home to globally significant biodiversity and the federally-endangered rusty-patched bumblebee and a gem for the Rockford region. If destroyed under Mayor Jury’s watch, this would be the first time an Illinois public agency has used public money to knowingly destroy such an important natural area. Luckily, the expansion can happen without destroying the prairie.

    Recently the Mayor wrote an opinion piece saying that “we can fully utilize this asset and its potential.” I agree and its full potential includes the prairie and the expansion. Fortunately, we can have both. There is 3.6 million dollars available for the Rockford Airport in State “Rebuild Illinois” funds that can and should be used to redesign. If nothing changes, construction on the prairie is set to resume on October 15th based on the decision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. That's why I also urge the Mayor to use his voice and authority to publicly advocate for win-win solutions for Rockford’s people, economy, and globally-important biodiversity.

    Thank you for your time.

  • Hello,

    This is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY] in [COUNTY]. I am calling to ask that Governor Pritzker does everything in his power to prevent the destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie during the expansion of the Rockford Airport and publicly advocate for its official dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve.

    Bell Bowl Prairie is a Category One Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site. It is an ultra-rare natural area home to globally significant biodiversity and the federally-endangered rusty-patched bumblebee. If destroyed under Governor Pritzker's watch, this would be the first time an Illinois public agency has used public money to knowingly destroy such an important natural area. Luckily, as shown in historical precedence, there exist many alternate expansion options that can happen without destroying the prairie.

    I urge the Governor to use his authority to make sure Rockford Airport is not allowed to continue construction to destroy the prairie on October 15th.. This would be a win-win situation for the regional economy, global biodiversity, and the people of Illinois.

    Thank you for your time.

  • Office of the Governor

    207 State House

    Springfield, IL 62706

    Governor Pritzker:

    Back on November 16, you said of the impact Rockford Airport's expansion will have on Bell Bowl Prairie: "As we protect our environment, we can do so while also creating jobs that we don't need to have a trade-off here."

    In order to not “need a trade-off” alternative designs for the airport expansion must be pursued. The Airport has continuously resisted these alternatives, and by supporting the current expansion plan, you are supporting the destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie.

    The Airport has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit preventing Bell Bowl Prairie's destruction, dissolved its decades-old stewardship agreement with the Natural Land Institute, and refused all constructive engagement with the conservation community. The FAA has submitted a Biological Assessment to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and if they do not stop the construction, it will resume in October and the prairie will be destroyed.

    Today I write calling on you to come out fully in support of saving Bell Bowl Prairie. The Airport needs to know that "not having a trade-off" means you think the expansion project needs to be redesigned and impacts on the prairie prevented. Words can also be put to action by using your authority to make sure the $3.6 million in Rebuild Illinois funding recently awarded to Rockford Airport is used to redesign the project instead of destroying Bell Bowl Prairie.

    Time is running out for Bell Bowl Prairie – so let the Airport Board know you advocate for this win-win situation!

    Sincerely,

    [NAME]

  • Hello,

    This is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY] in [COUNTY]. I am calling to ask that Senator Durbin does everything in his power to prevent the destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie during the expansion of the Rockford Airport and publicly advocate for its official dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve.

    Bell Bowl Prairie is an ultra-rare natural area home to globally significant biodiversity and the federally-endangered rusty-patched bumblebee. Its ecological importance is supported by the recent FAA Biological Assessment that was submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service. I urge the Senator to work closely with the FAA, Fish & Wildlife Service, IDNR, and IDOT to make sure that the construction of the airport does not resume on October 15th following the decision by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. .

    If destroyed under Senator Durbin's watch, this would be the first time an Illinois public agency has used public money to knowingly destroy such an important natural area. Luckily, as Governor Pritzker stated on November 16th, and the Biological Assessment shows, the expansion can happen without destroying the prairie. And there is 3.6 million dollars available for the Rockford Airport in State “Rebuild Illinois” funds that can and should be used to redesign. That's why I also urge the Senator to use his voice to publicly advocate for a win-win solution for Illinois' people, economy, and globally-important biodiversity.

    Thank you for your time.

  • Senator Dick Durbin

    525 S. 8th Street

    Springfield, IL 62703

    Senator Durbin:

    Back in October of last year, you said of the impact Rockford Airport's expansion will have on Bell Bowl Prairie: “I continue to encourage both sides to meet on a solution that is in the best interest of the environment, regional jobs, and economic development,"

    The conservation community was thrilled to hear these words. They show you believe we can have both expansion and prairie.

    The Airport seems not to have gotten the message. In the time since, they have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit preventing Bell Bowl Prairie's destruction, dissolved their decades-old stewardship agreement with the Natural Land Institute, and refused all constructive engagement with the conservation community. The FAA has submitted a Biological Assessment to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and if they do not stop the construction, it will resume in October and the prairie will be destroyed.

    Today I write calling on you to clarify your statement and come out fully in support of saving Bell Bowl Prairie. The Airport needs to know that the "best interest of the environment and economic development" means you think the expansion project needs to follow an alternative design and avoid destroying the prairie. Words can also be put to action by using your influence to make sure the $3.6 million in Rebuild Illinois funding recently awarded to Rockford Airport is used to redesign the project instead of destroying Bell Bowl Prairie.

    Time is running out for Bell Bowl Prairie – so let the Airport Board know you advocate for this win-win situation!

    Sincerely,

    [NAME]

  • Hello,

    This is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY] in [COUNTY]. I am calling to ask that Senator Duckworth does everything in her power to prevent the destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie during the expansion of the Rockford Airport and publicly advocate for its official dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve.

    Bell Bowl Prairie is an ultra-rare natural area home to globally significant biodiversity and the federally-endangered rusty-patched bumblebee. Its ecological importance is supported by the recent FAA Biological Assessment that was submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service I urge the Senator to work closely with the FAA, Fish and Wildlife Service, IDOT, and IDNR to make sure that the construction of the airport does not resume on October 15th following the decision by the Fish and Wildlife.

    If destroyed under Senator Duckworth's watch, this would be the first time an Illinois public agency has used public money to knowingly destroy such a significant natural area. Luckily, as Governor Pritzker stated on November 16th, and the Biological Assessment shows, the expansion can happen without destroying the prairie. And there is 3.6 million dollars available for the Rockford Airport in State “Rebuild Illinois” funds that can and should be used to redesign. That's why I also urge the Senator to use her voice and authority as Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife to publicly advocate for a win-win solution for Illinois' people, economy, and globally-important biodiversity.

    Thank you for your time.

  • Senator Tammy Duckworth

    8 South Old State Capitol Plaza

    Springfield, IL 62701

    Senator Duckworth:

    Back in October of last year, you said of the impact Rockford Airport's expansion will have on Bell Bowl Prairie “I’m glad to see that the Chicago-Rockford International Airport temporarily paused its proposed expansion project to create the necessary space to facilitate additional stakeholder discussions. I look forward to all sides coming together in the coming weeks to find a path forward that safeguards good-paying jobs and protects our environment.”

    The conservation community was thrilled to hear these words. They show you believe we can have both expansion and prairie.

    The Airport seems not to have gotten the message. In the time since, they have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit preventing Bell Bowl Prairie's destruction, dissolved their decades-old stewardship agreement with the Natural Land Institute, and refused all constructive engagement with the conservation community. The FAA has submitted a Biological Assessment to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and if they do not stop the construction, it will resume in October and the prairie will be destroyed.

    Today I write calling on you to clarify your statement and come out fully in support of saving Bell Bowl Prairie. The Airport needs to know that "protecting our environment" means you think the expansion project needs to follow an alternative design and avoid destroying the prairie. Words can also be put to action by using your influence to make sure the $3.6 million in Rebuild Illinois funding recently awarded to Rockford Airport is used to redesign the project instead of destroying Bell Bowl Prairie.

    Time is running out for Bell Bowl Prairie – so let the Airport Board know you advocate for this win-win situation!

    Sincerely,

    [NAME]

More talking points for crafting your message:

  1. Expansion of capacity at Chicago Rockford International Airport can be done responsibly and in ways that do not damage the Bell Bowl Prairie or impact its rare and endangered species.

    • The Rockford Airport Board refuses to seriously consider alternative designs, even though GeoSyntec Engineering has demonstrated that expansion can continue without major damage to the prairie.

    • According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, $3.6 million in Rebuild Illinois funding could be used to redesign the expansion, specifically the road through the prairie.

    • The FAA Biological Assessment cites no alternative design that does not cause any damage to the prairie, rather it only considers designs that cause varying amounts of damage. 

  2. Prairies are an ultra-endangered ecosystem: only 0.01% of original prairie is left in Illinois.

    • Only 20 acres of remnant gravel prairie exist in Illinois; Bell Bowl Prairie is five of these acres. It should be protected as a dedicated nature preserve in perpetuity.

    • Relocating individual species to other sites would not conserve all of Bell Bowl Prairie’s biodiversity resources.

    • Undisturbed parts of Bell Bowl Prairie can be meaningfully restored.

    • Surviving healthy ecosystems are so rare that many agencies with other missions have seen it as in the public interest to protect these important resources, from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to villages and townships and even cemetery and homeowner associations.

  3. Bell Bowl Prairie is a historic, cultural, and scientific asset to the airport, the local community, the state, and the world.

    • The biodiversity of Bell Bowl Prairie is a rare resource. Its plants, animals and fungi are a library of genes and processes that will help people in the future find a new life-saving drug, grow more resilient crops, protect clean drinking water, or solve some other problem we can’t even imagine yet.

    • Public taxpayer funds should not be used to destroy an Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site, which are the best-preserved natural areas left in the state.

    • Illinois’ rich conservation history is indebted largely to George Fell, who was inspired to create the Natural Areas Protection Act after witnessing his father’s efforts to save Bell Bowl Prairie in the 1950’s.

    • Rockford aspires to be a leader in conservation. For example, they joined the Bird City Illinois initiative in October 2021 and hosted GreenTown Rockford to address issues of climate change and sustainability. Destroying Bell Bowl Prairie is not consistent with that effort.

    • Bell Bowl Prairie is now one of the most famous parts of Rockford, with people from around the world taking action to protect it. This demonstrates a unique opportunity for future economic development in the area through ecotourism and scientific research.

List of Contacts

Local, State, and Federal Government
Bell Bowl Prairie is on public land, currently under management by the Greater Rockford Airport Authority (GRAA). The Mayors of Rockford, Loves Park, and Machesney Park, as well as the Winnebago County Board Chairman appoint members of the airport board. The GRAA is a governmental organization that receives taxes from the citizens of Winnebago County.

Local:
Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara: thomas.mcnamara@rockfordil.gov, 779-348-7300, Instagram
Aprel Prunty, Rockford Airport Alder: aprelprunty@rockfordil.gov, 815-601-6904
Loves Park Mayor Greg Jury: gregjury@cityoflovespark.com, 815-654-5030
Machesney Park Mayor Steven Johnson: stevej@machesneypark.org, 815-877-5432
Winnebago County Board Chairman Joseph V. Chiarelli: BoardOffice@WINcoIL.us, 815-319-4225

State:
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker: Send a message, 217-782-6830, 217-782-6831, 312-814-2121, or 312-814-2122
State Representative Maurice West: Assistance@StateRepWEST.com, 815-987-7433
State Representative Dave Vella: repdavevella@gmail.com, 815-329-6741
State Senator Steve Stadelman: Send a message, 815-987-7557

Federal:
The airport has received over $44 million in federal funds from lawmakers since 2015.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin: Send a message, 309-786-5173, 202-224-2152, 217-492-4062
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth: Send a message, 309-606-7060, 202-224-2854, 217-528-6124
U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos: Send a message, 202-225-5905
U.S. Dept. of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: secretaryscheduler@dot.gov, Twitter, Instagram
U.S. Dept. of Transportation: ostgovaffairs@dot.gov, 202-366-4000
U.S. President Joseph Biden, the White House: Send a message, Twitter, Instagram

Federal Aviation Administration
Remind them that according to federal law, they must supplement their 2019 Environmental Assessment given the discovery of the federally Endangered rusty patched bumble bee.
Deb Bartell: Deb.Bartell@faa.gov, 847-294-7335
Amy Hanson: Amy.Hanson@faa.gov, 847-294-7354
Rebecca MacPherson: Rebecca.MacPherson@faa.gov, 847-294-7336
Susan Mowery-Schalk, Director: Susan.Mouwery-Schalk@faa.gov

Chicago-Rockford International Airport staff & Greater Rockford Airport Authority
Social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
General contact: rfd@flyrfd.com, 815-969-4000 or 815-969-4468
Mike Dunn, Executive Director: mikedunn@flyrfd.com, 815-222-0923
Paul Cicero, Board Chairman: pcicero@flyrfd.com
Tom Myers, Vice Chairman: tmyers@flyrfd.com
Thomas Dal Santo, Board Commissioner: tdalsanto@flyrfd.com
Leslie West, Board Commissioner: lwest@flyrfd.com, Instagram
Mike Schablaske, Board Commissioner: mschablaske@flyrfd.com, Twitter
Tonya Lamia, Board Commissioner: tlamia@flyrfd.com, Instagram
Zack Oakley, Deputy Director of Operations and Planning: zoakley@flyrfd.com, 815-703-5319

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Ask the IDNR to protect the many federal and state threatened and endangered plants and animals that live at Bell Bowl. “Transplanting” is not an acceptable alternative.
Main Contact Form: Send a message
Tim Schweizer: tim.schweizer@illinois.gov
Colleen Callahan, Director: colleen.callahan@Illinois.gov
Leon Hinz, leon.hinz@illinois.gov
Endangered Plants and Animals: DNR.EndSpec@illinois.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Kraig McPeek, Field Office Supervisor: kraig_mcpeek@fws.gov
Tamara Smith: tamara_smith@fws.gov, 952-252-0092 ext. 219
Heidi Woeber: heidi_woeber@fws.gov, 309-757-5800, ext. 209
Charles Wooley, USFWS Midwest Regional Director: charles_wooley@fws.gov, 612-713-5301

Illinois Department of Transportation
Omer Osman, Secretary of Transportation: omer.osman@illinois.gov, 217-782-2151
Doug House, Deputy Secretary: doug.house@illinois.gov, 217-720-7011
Vincent Hamer: vincent.hamer@illinois.gov, 217-557-9035

Customers of the Airport
DB Schenker USA: customerservice@dbschenker.com, 1-800-225-5229
Senator International: Send a message, info@senator-international.com, F. Dave McInerney (RFD Manager)
UPS: 1-800-742-5877 (Rockford), Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, @CarolBTome (CEO)
Amazon: amazon-pr@amazon.com
Bezos Earth Fund: info@bezosearthfund.org
DSV: Send a message, Twitter, Facebook

The airport wants to enter into an agreement with the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County or another local landowning agency in order to “mitigate” the damage done to the prairie by planting prairie plants elsewhere. Remind the local landowning agencies that remnant prairies cannot be replicated and mitigation is not an acceptable solution to protect this extremely rare piece of Winnebago County nature.

Forest Preserves of Winnebago County
Mike Holan, Executive Director: mholan@winnebagoforest.org, 815-877-6100
Board Members Judith Barnard, Jeff Tilly, Mike Eickman, Audrey Johnson, Gloria Lind, Cheryl A. Maggio, and Jerry Paulson: jbarnard@winnebagoforest.org, jtilly@winnebagoforest.org, meickman@winnebagoforest.org, ajohnson@winnebagoforest.org, glind@winnebagoforest.org, cmaggio@winnebagoforest.org, jpaulson@winnebagoforest.org

Rockford Park District
Jay Sandine, Executive Director: jaysandine@rockfordparkdistrict.org, 815-969-4072
Board Members: Scott Olson, Tyler Smith, Jack Armstrong, Martesha Brown, Rudy Valdez: solson@olsonfh.com, tylersland@aol.com, jackarm_1@comcast.net, mbrown@friendsofmartesha.org, RudyParkDistrict@gmail.com

Make a donation.

Friends of IL Nature Preserves and partner organizations and individuals need funds to pay legal and campaign expenses to save the Bowl Bell Prairie. Your contributions will initially help defray expenses incurred by organizations that have retained counsel for this purpose.