Welles Park Nature Place Groundbreaking

LINCOLN SQUARE — Construction equipment is about to rip up an acre of grass at Welles Park and replace it with a wild kingdom, complete with mud kitchen, sunflower fort and sensory garden.

Members of the park's advisory council and greening committee were up with the sun Monday morning to attend a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony as work gets underway on the park's new NaturePlace area, which, paradoxical as it may seem, is designed to bring a bit more of the Great Outdoors to Welles.

The contradiction of many Chicago parks, including Welles, is that these green spaces — with their ball diamonds, soccer fields, tennis courts and playgrounds — aren't particularly connected to the natural environment.

"This is a fantastic park in terms of all the places for concerts and active things," council member Sue Smock Lawson said. "What about a place that provides solace in nature, where people can seek out a retreat from all the activity?"

Members of the Welles Park Advisory Council saw an opportunity to correct that deficit when, two years ago, they began brainstorming potential uses for a defunct playground site near the park's southwest corner.

"My feeling was, the park is gorgeous but everything is for kids," said council member Trudie Acheatel, 72.

"Seniors need a place for quiet meditation," Acheatel said.

The council's idea for a nature oasis happened to dovetail with the Park District's push for natural play areas, and the two jointly developed the plan for the NaturePlace. In the spirit of a contemplative refuge, there are paths to wander and spots to sit and reflect or birdwatch; on the more energetic side of things, there are rocks to clamber on and logs to scamper across.

"Most urban kids don't play in nature. This is an opportunity for kids both young and old to get back to nature," said Becky Kliber, Welles Park supervisor.

Kristin Hoffmann, whose family contributed a sizeable donation toward the NaturePlace in memory of her late mother, said she'd like to see more parks follow Welles' lead.

"I feel this type of play is so important. They [kids] use more imagination," said Hoffmann, the mother of young daughters. "I hope this becomes a movement."

Bethany Simmons, greening committee member, could be seen Monday playing with her toddler daughter on some of the area's temporary features.

"I selfishly want them to touch the wood, to have that experience with nature and getting a little dirty," said Simmons. "I grew up five minutes from here and I had to go to Wisconsin to play in the dirt."

Kliber said fences will encircle the construction zone shortly, and the main infrastructure should be in place by early fall.

It will take the area's native plants — grown from seed or small plugs — a couple of years to mature, she said.

The cost of the NaturePlace is being funded through a combination of grants, public dollars and private donations. Click here to contribute.