CHICAGO IS ALIVE WITH ADVENTURE
Written by Camille West
William W. Powers Park
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We at Black Outdoorsman Magazine search for natural environments within urban centers around the country. The purpose is to share this information with our readers, especially the residents of the cities in which they are located. BOM's hope is to encourage people to explore and appreciate these natural environments. This issue we focus on Chicago. It is an understatement to say that Chicago has been known for a lot of things. Once the fur trading capital of the country, in the mid 19th century Chicago became the country's city of industry; where paint factories, the railroad, and the grain market flourished. The metropolitan center was the first to hold a national political convention nominating Abraham Lincoln for president. The city also erected the first skyscraper. In 1871, Chicago burned to the ground in what is known as "The Great Fire". Over 17-thousand buildings were destroyed. The song called the "O'Leary Legend" memorializes the devastating fire and is sung by young campers all over the country. Chicago was also considered a city of promise where thousands of former slaves and sharecroppers fled for work seeking a better future. Now, it is best known as the home of media mogul Oprah Winfrey and Lovie Smith, coach of the Bears football team and the one of two black coaches to play in the Super Bowl.
For BOM, Chicago best serves its community by being a city among the Great Lakes region with an interconnected water system unlike any other in the country. Department of Natural Resources Regional Land Manager for Illinois Chris Rollins helped BOM understand Chicago's dynamic water system and its unique urban sanctuary, William W. Powers Park.
William W. Powers Park is situated on the southeast side of the city. It spans from, 120th to 134th street. The state acquired the 400 acres of land in 1947. It was turned over to the city in 1964 and now encompasses 588 acres. This includes Wolf Lake, a natural lake with a 6-mile shoreline that lies on the boarder of Illinois and Indiana. Activities offered to the public include bike riding, boating, bird watching, fishing, hunting, and picnicking. Wolf Lake supports a fair amount of fish species such as largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, walleye, and more. During the fall hunters are able to hunt waterfowl such as duck, geese, and quail. Ice fishing on the lake during the winter is also popular. Some residents even bring their radios to listen to the Bear's games while braving below freezing temperatures. Wolf Lake is part of a complex of shallow lakes, wetlands, and beach ridges and was directly connected to Lake Michigan. It consists of nine distinct pools separated by dikes. The dikes and pools were constructed during sand and gravel dredging for the Indiana Toll Road, which crosses the lake. Rollins says, one can also kayak or canoe the lake and travel into the connecting waterways, which will lead right up into Canada. Boats with up to 10-horsepower motors are allowed on the lake.
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Park fisherman
Shelter
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The park makes hunting blinds and pellets available to hunters and shelter for the ice fisherman. There are also youth programs that provide instruction for kids who wish to learn how to fish and hunt. The program also supplies the rods, reels, and tackle. How many inner city programs like this exist? Rollins says all types of people utilize the park but a lot of African Americans who have brought their southern traditions with them make use of the resources. Williams W. Powers Park is one of few parks of its kind that can be reached via public transportation. Rollins adds that the park is also home to a colony of Monk Parakeets. These birds are native to South America, certainly a more tropical habitat, but found their way to Chicago and live in the park year-round.
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