Mariani Landscape's Volunteer Day Benefits Lake Forest Open Lands

Employees of Mariani Landscape (www.marianilandscape.com) -- a premier residential and commercial landscape design, installation and maintenance service -- participated in the company's annual Volunteer Day Oct. 29, working alongside friends and family in Lake Forest Open Lands' Skokie River Nature Preserve.

Led by Mariani Landscape CEO Frank Mariani and President Fred Wacker, the group built a new path lined with wood chips on the Gus Hart Trail. The team of volunteers also worked in the prairie collecting the seeds of native plants to be shared with Lake Forest Open Lands and other preserves.

“It's important to give back to the community that supports us,” says Mariani, a Lake Forest resident who has spent several years developing a native prairie behind his home. “Lake Forest Open Lands has preserved so many treasured parcels of land – places that provide us with opportunities for education, exercise and relaxation. I'm proud of the Mariani Landscape staff for putting their unique skills to work for this very worthy cause.”

The Skokie River Nature Preserve is a 122-acre mosaic textured with wild grasses, wetlands, leafy trees and lush meadow. It is located at the west end of Laurel Avenue, west of Green Bay Road in Lake Forest, Ill.

Lake Forest Open Lands has more than 12 miles of walking trails in six nature preserves, open to the public year round. For more information, visit www.lfola.org.