At first glance the park does not look all that exciting
Dunning Read Conservation Area is a little corner of natural beauty in the middle of a North Chicago neighborhood. The park is surrounded by a vehicle emissions testing area and a streets and sanitation depot to the northwest, Chicago-Read Mental Health Center to the north, Oak Park Avenue to the east, and the busy two lane Irving Park Road to the south.
The park is not easy to find because it is so inconsequential at first glance that it is easy to pass by. The park shares an entrance with the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center located at 4200 N. Oak Park Ave., which is half a block north of Irving Park Road. Park in the far southeast corner of the lot and near the fence bordering Oak Park Ave. is a sign welcoming the visitor and a wood chip trail. There are signs for the area on Irving Park Road, but one may not be looking there as the signs are not posted at the entrance. There is no sign for the conservation area on Oak Park Ave. where the actual entrance is. There is only the entrance sign for the mental health center.
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Hawk that greeted me upon my arrival to the Dunning Read Conservation Area.
Although the conservation area seems insignificant from the road it is quite nice once walking around. The author was immediately greeted by a large hawk sitting on a fence. Continuing on the trail it ends near a little area surrounded by woods with places to sit. REI and volunteers are obviously busy at work as piles of unspread wood chips lie on top of the trail and sign posts with nothing on them indicate the place is a work in progress.
Bird life was everywhere. Not only was there a large hawk at the entrance, but a merlin or a pigeon hawk was also spotted flying out of the woods. Sparrows, blue jays, and warblers were very active in the marsh reeds and woods and since the area is a wetland it is most likely home to great blue herons and kingfishers in the summer. A group of geese flew over the horizon and landed in the grass of the mental health facility, so it is a busy feathered friend environment.
Since the location is right off Irving Park the Conservation Area is easily accessible via mass transit. The Irving Park line drives right past the park and in fact the Montrose 79 line stops right in front of the mental health center.
The sign along Irving Park Road. Tricky part is sign is along fence and not near the entrance
Despite the small area and loud surroundings one would not think much wildlife would inhabit such a noisy corner, but Dr. Stanley Gehrt of the Chicago urban coyote project told me not to discount these areas. A little swamp about the same size as this conservation area in Schaumburg had six different coyotes using it as a base during the day at different times. Due to the proximity of this area with Schiller Woods Forest Preserve and the Des Plaines River there is no doubt that coyote are present in this area.
Geese fly over the Chicago-Read Mental Health facility adjacent to the Conservation Area.
Since the park is so unknown there was not one other person in the park, so it is a great spot for a little solitude in the middle of the city. There is no place in the park where the sound of the city can be shut out as the noise from Irving Park Road is omnipotent, however at least there is a place in the city where the shriek of the blue jay and the chirp of the cricket competes with the hum of the car and the roar of the jet.
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Comments
These urban wildlife areas are so important, for the animals, and for the people. Loved the hawk-think he's probably a juvenile red tail.
Wow, Ted! I have never heard of this park but one of my ancestors must've been involved somehow, or a distant relative! My maiden name is Dunning and it's not that common to see... You seem to have a knack of finding little spots of tranquility in the city. Quite nice. I would love seeing all the birds.
Neat that REI is volunteering.
There's something ironic about the fact that the park is surrounded by a vehicle emissions testing area. :-)
I lived in the area for a few years and never knew this existed. You are quite the sleuth.
I always find it fascinating when creatures of the wild thrive in an urban invironment and do it quite well.
Great article Ted! Thank you! The site has been worked on by volunteers for the past few years after they were awarded a conservation easement by the State of Illinois. It's actually IDNR land and the trail is open from Dawn to Dusk. We have some hope that one day it will be transferred either to the Chicago Park District or the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Both agencies, along with the Bureau of Forestry, IDOT and Chicago Read Mental Health helped make the trail possible by loaning the tools and equipment for the 3/4 mile trail this fall. (We installed at least 5 semi's of wood chips.)
Regular volunteer days are typically the second Saturday of each month. For more info people can check out the calendar at www.FOTP.org
Mary Eileen Sullivan
Director of Volunteers
Friends of the Parks
What a great hidden gem! It's great to know there is an oasis in urban Chicago, complete with bountiful wildlife. Thanks for the tip.
Weirdly, I have never been to the Chicago area :-) Interesting article.
amazing how you captured the hawk. great photos, as always.
It was a very nice artical,Thank you.This property was fought for by the community residents of the Dunning Neighborhood.It was a long and intense fight.We fought the City and lobbied the State for five years.The property is open to the public for observation and use. It is a conservation area. It is State owned property and in perpetuity with a conservation easement held and inforced by the IDNR. We have volunteer work days the second saturday of every month (weather pending) on the site.
John R. Videckis
President,Austin/Irving Community Council&
Dunning-Read Management Team
I used to live near Irving Pk and Central, not far from where this is now. I'm sure the Dunning neighborhood is glad to have that land used for something positive after all these years.
You always find such interesting places in unexpected places!
The coyote info was interesting..neat creatures.
Cheers..
Very charming story, and the photos do well in illustrating it.
Interesting article. Love the hawk picture.
Amazing photos, would like to go and see that!
Your photos always have the most interesting skies and cloud formations. Very cool.
I pass by Dunning Read every other day and I never see anyone in the conservation area .I didnt know the public could go inside the park. The next nice day I will deffinately visit.
Hi Rudy,
I recommend it. Since you are a neighbor you are aware at how congested the area is. Once inside the conservation area it does not feel like being in the middle of a Chicago neighborhood. Nice to get a feeling of peace in the bustling city. You will enjoy it.
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