Photo by Alex Gilbert
Triangle Park in Lake Forest
This post was written by Alex Gilbert, MPC research assistant.
Surrounded by three streets, Triangle Park in Lake Forest is an overlooked public space. The park would be almost empty if it weren’t for the pedestrian walkway going through it. People may notice the distinctive metal deer statue off Deerpath Road, but they usually don’t delve deeper than that.
I first discovered Triangle Park walking through it. It sits in the middle of the half-mile path between my college campus and the town. For the longest time, I looked at it only as part of my walk to town. More and more I began to appreciate it. Triangle Park has an appeal all of its own. The occasional real deer mimics its metal cousin, while a sneaky fox trots around the park. A bench provides a spot to sit down and…
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As a Chicago native, it’s hard to think of just one favorite place. On a hot summer night, there’s nothing like enjoying an Italian beef on Taylor Street and joining neighbors and friends on the curb to cool off with a homemade Italian ice from Mario’s. Other evenings, I’ve taken my dogs to the parking lot of a famous fishery, eating fried shrimp and frog legs next to the river, taking in the best of industry and modern skyscrapers in one breath. From walking along 26th Street and capturing the bustling smells, sights and sounds of Little Village to sitting on the quiet shores of Lake Michigan on Loyola’s campus, the city is truly home to several of my favorite places.
If I had to pick just one favorite place, it would be on the top of a hill in Humboldt…
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Yesterday, Gov. Patrick Quinn signed HB 43 into law, making it a requirement for drivers in Illinois to stop, not just yield, to pedestrians at a crosswalk.
There are so many reasons why this legislation makes sense: We've written on this blog about how this legislation will help protect the lives of Illinois pedestrians. And we've explained the link between safe streets and economically vibrant communities. We applaud Gov. Quinn for signing this legislation and look forward to the day when Illinois' drivers have all shifted their habits to give pedestrians the right of way when crossing at crosswalks.
Speaking from my personal perspective, I intend to help educate the drivers I encounter each morning as I cross Irving Park Road at Greenview Avenue to catch the #80 CTA bus headed east…
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This post was written by Aleece Smith, MPC research assistant.
Lincoln Park has its gangster-era haunts, Uptown has the Aragon and The Green Mill, the Magnificent Mile has all that shopping, and the Loop has, well, it’s the Loop. But wait! You missed so much! Your trip to Chicago is not yet complete! For those in the dark about the kind of experience Chicago’s other neighborhoods are able to offer visitors, LISC Chicago and the Chicago Dept. of Tourism have partnered to produce Community Showcase Tours, a collection of photos, maps, and video and audio tours intended to draw interest to some of the city’s off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods.
The project makes the places in each neighborhood accessible to both out-of-towners and “staycationers” by…
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This post was written by MPC research assistant Alex Gilbert.
The Illinois Conservation Fund, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are working together to create a Rain Garden Grant. Selected applicants will receive up to $1,000 to plant and construct rain gardens on public property in Illinois using native wetland or aquatic species. Teachers, staff of nonprofits and public institutions are eligible to apply, and applications are due by Nov. 30, 2010.
Rain gardens are a wonderful, natural way to manage stormwater, which is essential in any city, but particularly in Chicago because the city’s combined sewer system handles both stormwater and sewage. Both are treated before being sent down river to the Mississippi. During large storms, the…
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