Work on a recreational trail around an Orland Park, Illinois farmstead has been delayed a year, but work is expected to begin this fall on the final building restoration needed to turn the property into a living history farm, village officials said.
Orland Park purchased the 60-acre property northeast of 108th Avenue and 179th Street, farmed by the Stellwagen family since 1860, for $6 million in 2002.
The village is working with the Stellwagen Family Farm Foundation to open the historic farm for public education and recreation and earlier this year began working with a consultant on developing a master plan for the property, which is a village historical landmark.
The village recently announced that it’s seeking bids from contractors who can restore the foundation of the farmhouse by November, repairing and keeping as much of the original building materials as possible, according to bid documents.