Canal Origins Park

CANAL ORIGINS PARK The waters off Canal Origins Park are considered worked with groups of students to create ceramic to be the second best fish habitat in the city friezes that tell the story of the canal.

Site No 12 (exceeded only by River Park along the North The design highlights the historic significance Branch). It is located at the confluence of Bubbly of the site while improving the park's natural Creek, the South Branch of the Chicago River, and features. This is a stopping ground for migrating the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal. birds, and kingfishers can be found throughout This site is historically important. On July 4, 1836, the warm months. Black-crowned night herons the first shovelful of dirt for the Illinois & Michigan are frequently seen feeding here. (I&M) Canal was dug at what is now Canal Origins The site on the east shore, called Bridgeport Park. The I&M was constructed to provide a way Expansion 1 , is dominated by cottonwood and for larger boats to travel from the Great Lakes to mulberry trees, with weedy understory vegetation. the Mississippi River by connecting Lake Michigan A well-worn trail runs parallel to the river. There are to the Illinois River. Before the I&M was built, the good views of the river and of the western portion main stem of the Chicago River was only navigable of Canal Origins Park across the water. CULLERTON to this point.

DAN RYAN The City purchased Bridgeport Expansion in 2004. CERMAK The Canal Corridor Association worked for The land requires extensive environmental clean-up. ver twenty years to see Canal Origins Park preserved. go Ri D Chica LAN The Chicago Park District will be the eventual IS UE The State of Illinois transferred the west property BL owner. No formal plans have been drawn, but the 2 3 4 to the Chicago Park District, and in 2004, DAMEN N SO east property will enhance natural habitat and EN the park's native habitat was restored. Earth EV ST improve the public's access to the river. Upland al WESTERN an artist Michael Singer helped create the design. ip C Sh 31st and portions of the site may be used for active itary A walkway is dug down into the earth, giving the San B recreation such as ball fields. R ub feel of a canal. Chicago artist Phil Schuster CHE b ly AR C ree ASHLAND HALSTED 35th k RACINE

Canal Origins Park O . 12 N

ADDRESS 2800 S Ashland Ave OWNER Chicago Park District, R City of Chicago VE RI O ACREAGE 4.33 CAG CHI CH RAN B HABITATS S

1 Potential Habitat 2 4 Riparian/Water Edge 3 Prairie/Grassland

R Canal Origins Park Canal Origins Park 2800 SOUTH / 1500 WEST NO EA EL DIRECTIONS For the west side, turn north on Ashland off of Archer; the park is on the right hand side of the street, just before the access road FULL for the Chicago Sun- ER Times printing plant

REEK C and the river bridge. Chicago Habitat Directory 2005 LY For the east side, turn B

north on Lock Street BUB

LO

off of Archer Avenue. CK Stop at the dead end. ASHLAND 42

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