South Shore Nature Sanctuary

In 2001, the Chicago Park District created a 4.25 acre nature sanctuary on a long neglected peninsula located behind the South Shore Cultural Center. A trail system loops through the sanctuary and leads visitors along an emerging sand dune, on a boardwalk over a small wetland, and across three and a half acres of a prairie and woodland landscape.

The nature sanctuary’s location along Lake Michigan makes it an important stop-over spot for birds during spring and fall bird migration, providing food, shelter and a place to rest. The Park District selected many native, bird-friendly species of shrubs and trees including oaks, hawthorn, American plum, serviceberry, hazelnut, viburnum, and native roses that provide fruit and attract insects many birds rely on for their diet.

The prairie meadow includes plants that provide nectar for butterflies and food for growing caterpillars such as butterfly milkweed, blazing star, and purple coneflower. Scattered cottonwoods and willows around the sanctuary have been left standing to provide food for caterpillars. The wetland edge contains a variety of native shrubs and plants such as indigo bush, button bush, cardinal flower, bull rushes, and wild blue iris. The sands along Lake Michigan are slowly collecting into a small dune habitat, which contains dune vegetation such as dune grass and sand reed.

Also, two circular limestone benches known as council rings provide special places for small gatherings, story telling, and campfires. The council ring was the hallmark of Jens Jensen, the Chicago landscape architect renowned for his “prairie style”. Jensen believed council rings were very democratic places, and were among his favorite design elements. At South Shore, the council rings provide scenic views of the Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.