It turns out the economic downturn has an upside for Illinois forest preserves.

Groups working to expand preserves and other open spaces in the Chicago area have been able to buy up big pieces of land after plans for residential developments fell apart. Since 2008, prices for coveted pieces of land have dropped. So have interest rates.

This unexpected boon means there will more than 2,500 acres of new open space in the Chicago area in the years to come.

Conservation groups and forest preserve districts have been buying up property in Cook, DuPage, Kendall, Kane, Will and McHenry counties.

The groups say the land, all of which is next to existing forest preserves, will link trail systems and benefit endangered wildlife.