Acres: 5
Parking: Parking Lot in the Back of Building

Boley Farm was purchased by the Village of Orland Park as part of the Open Lands acquisition. A fresh farm stand remains open each summer.

An Orland Park farm with buildings more than 100 years old was purchased by the Village of Orland Park in June of 2001. Officials said it is likely it will soon serve as a living lesson for schoolchildren and as a farmers market.

The Village Board agreed to buy the 5.8-acre site, located in a heavily built-up area of the community, for $560,000. The Boley property, owned by Glen Boley, on 151st Street west of 80th Avenue across from Silver Lake Country Club, includes a farmhouse, a barn, outbuildings, and a farm stand.

The buildings hold a special place in Orland Park's history, as each one is 100 years old, and each one had its own individual purpose. While the property was once targeted for development as multifamily housing, it will not be filled with townhomes and condominiums.

Although the village has yet to determine exactly how the farm will be used, the main goal is to use it for educational purposes. The vision is to have schoolchildren visit the farm and in the summers developing a village farmers market.

While there are many potential uses, the end result is that not only is a piece of open space being saved, but a historical piece of property for Orland Park as well.

The village has agreed to allow Boley to continue to farm the property and have relatives live there during his lifetime, with the covenant that it remains undeveloped.

The village has purchased 53 acres so far to preserve as open space. This initiative was started five years ago when the Open Lands Fund was created, which raised private and public dollars for land purchases.

In November, voters passed a $20 million referendum proposal to buy 300 acres of land for open space.