Jerry Adelmann

Openlands President Emeritus Gerald (Jerry) W. Adelmann joined the organization in 1980 to lead the effort that established the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, the first federal land designation of its kind and a model for 62 heritage areas nationwide. His leadership in establishing Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, preserving the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, and advancing conservation and historic preservation in the U.S. and Southeast Asia has earned him numerous honors, including the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Hutchinson Medal. Jerry serves as vice chair of the Center for Humans and Nature, chairs the City of Chicago’s Nature and Wildlife Committee, and is an emeritus member of the National Board of Advisors for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.