CHICAGO (AP) — Wooded Island in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side reopens this weekend after improvements that include new trees and native plants.
A five-year capital improvement project underway includes the enhancement of wildlife habitat within the park. The Chicago Park District says more than 180 trees and 11,000 shrubs were planted. The lagoon’s shoreline has been graded and has new underwater structures to support the reintroduction of several species of fish, mussels and amphibians.
Jackson Park was designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted around 1892. The improvements are meant to preserve the historic landscaping.
The Chicago Park District plans to offer free tours of the newly renovated Wooded Island on Saturday.
Jackson Park will be the site of President Barack Obama’s presidential library.
