FALL FOLIAGE SOON TO REVEAL ITSELF IN CITY PARKS
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT OFFERS GREAT SPOTS TO SEE FALL COLORS
Release Date: 10/01/08
As the season changes, the trees begin to change as well and will start their annual display of vibrant colors soon. Catch a glimpse of fantastic fall foliagedisplayed at various locations throughout the Chicago Park District’s urban nature areas and parks.
“The Chicago Park District has numerous areas where park patrons can witness and enjoy the start of a new season,” said Jerome Scott, District Forester with the Chicago Park District. “These areas contain trees that have been displaying their autumn brilliance for longer then the age of our country.”
According to the Farmers’ Almanac the best time to view fall colors in Northern Illinoisis from October 12 through 22. Currently a few leaves have already began the color transformation, but the vast majority will change with the weather conditions, as temperature and moisture as the main influences.
“The green color we observe for the majority of the season is due to a dominant pigment in the leaves, called chlorophyll,” said Zhanna Yermakov, Chicago Park District Nature Areas Manager. “This pigment helps the plants capture energy so that they can convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars that they need to grow, a process called photosynthesis.”
Fall ushers in shorter days and lengthier and cooler nights, signaling the trees to prepare for winter dormancy. The trees will rest, living off the food they stored during the summer. The trees begin to slow down their production of chlorophyll, fadingthe bright green color away. The less dominant pigment reveals itself, painting the leaves with a warm color palette. These colors have been in the leaves in small amounts all along, but were hidden behind the dominant green chlorophyll.
A wide variety of trees live within the Chicago Park District and you can see any of the following trees in the Park District: ash, honeylocust, various maples (includes sugar and red maples), gingko, hawthorn, apple, elm, cottonwood and oak trees. Fall into a new season at the following locations in the Chicago Park District where you can experience urban fall foliage:
NORTH
·Gompers Park, southwest corner of Foster Ave. and Pulaski Rd.
The entrance to the parking lot nearest the lagoon and wetland is on Pulaski Road. The GompersParkfield house is located at 4222 W. Foster Avenue.
· Bill Jarvis Bird Sanctuary in Lincoln Park. east of Lake Shore Driveat 3600 N. Addison St.
The sanctuary is located in the fenced area behind the totem pole in Lincoln Park.
·North ParkVillageNatureCenterand Preserve, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
The entire preserve hosts a variety of trees perfect for fall foliage self-guided tours that include: swamp white oak, cottonwood, green ash, Ohio buckeye, red oak, red maple, basswood and hackberry.
WEST
·ColumbusWoodland, 500 S. Central Ave.
The lagoon is located in the northeast corner of the park nearest Central Avenueand Adams Street. Paths originate at either the field house or the refectory, and lead to the lagoon.
·HumboldtPark(near the PrairieRiver), east end of HumboldtPark.
There is a walking trail that goes around the lagoon that continues to the west end of HumboldtParkby the PrairieRiver. Park along Luis Munoz Martin Drivenear the lagoon.
·Douglas Park, S. California Ave.and W. Roosevelt Rd.in northeast corner of the park near lagoon.
SOUTH
·Paul Douglas Nature Sanctuary inJackson Park (on WoodedIsland), Jackson Park lagoon at 6401 S. Stony Island Ave.
The island can be reached from a bridge that is within walking distance of the parking lot off of Hayes Drive.
·West Pullman, W. 123rdSt.and S. Princeton Ave.
The Burr Oak Savanna is home to old, but wise, oak trees.
·WashingtonPark, east of Russell Dr.and west of Payne Dr.in southern portion of park
With 600 acres of natural area right in the City of Chicago, residents can experience nature at its finest during the fall season.
For more information, contact your local park, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.comor call 312-742-PLAY.
- Contact Phone: 312 742 7529