West Ridge Nature Preserve: An Oasis in Chicago

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG

UPDATED JUNE 2024

Western Avenue between Peterson and Bryn Mawr Avenues is an urban speedway. Cars race through this densely-packed neighborhood as if there’s a pot of gold waiting at road’s end in each direction. (Western, by the way, is the longest road—24 miles—in Chicago.) These thoughts passed through my mind as my 9-year-old son and I exited our car after parking on Western.

But within a few seconds after entering West Ridge Nature Preserve (5601 N. Western Avenue (Intersection of Ardmore & Western), Chicago, IL 60659, Facebook), we were in a different state of mind. It is a place of dense green woods, wildflowers, birdsong, and soothing waters. A place of peace and contemplation just steps away from the Chicago pot-of-gold speedway.

Until 2015, what is now known as West Ridge Nature Preserve was an undeveloped part of the historic Rosehill Cemetery (founded in 1859) that had never been used for burials. It’s fetid pond and dense woods served as a dumping ground for excess dirt and debris from the cemetery. Then, after a strong push by community activists, the area was purchased by the Chicago Park District and reimagined as an urban oasis. Invasive plants were removed and replaced with more than 500 native trees and shrubs, a boardwalk and other trails were built, the pond was dredged and otherwise restored, and pleasant overlooks and fishing access points were created. The area is still a work in progress, but what exists now is beautiful, serene, and special—especially in a big city that is always in need of more green space.

My son and I had a wonderful time walking the trail that winds around the pond on a June day that was more like early-May with its cool temperature and chalky cloud cover. Here are nine things you can do when you visit West Ridge Nature Preserve:

1. Enjoy strolling the boardwalk and other trails that circle the pond, streams, and travel through the woods.

2. Go for a run.

3. Cast your line to try to catch a bluegill or sunfish.

4. Have a picnic along the shore of the pond.

5. Go birdwatching. Some of the birds spotted at the preserve include ring-billed gulls, great blue herons, northern flickers, American goldfinch, song sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, herring gulls, eastern kingbirds, red-eyed vireos, black-capped chickadees, yellow warblers, cedar waxwings, double-crested cormorants, blue gray gnatcatchers, ruby-throated hummingbirds, spotted sandpipers, and scarlet tanagers.

6. See other wildlife such as deer, turtles, coyotes, frogs, and toads.

7. Take your kids to (or act like a kid again at) the Nature Play Space.

8. Participate in a variety of activities, such as kids’ fishing clinics, toddler meet-ups (I assume parents will come along, too), bird and nature walks, and frog surveys. Click here for a list of upcoming activities.

9. Close your eyes, dream, listed to the sounds of birdsong, and recharge your city-zapped batteries.

West Ridge Nature Preserve is a special place that I hope you’ll visit soon. I look forward to seeing the Chicago Park District’s and volunteers’ continuing efforts to revitalize this former dumping ground turned stunning urban oasis. 

After your visit to West Ridge, check out North Park Village Nature Center, just 3 miles directly west. Click here for my article on this north side favorite.

Copyright (text/photos) Andrew Morkes

Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $18.99. Nature in Chicagoland received great reviews in the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown, This Week in Birding blog, and Beverly Review.

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

I have been a writer and editor for nearly 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I’m also a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school. 

In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 60 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).

Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:

• Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
• Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
• Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
• Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
• Environment (Getting Started series)
• Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)