Steelworkers Park: Opportunities to Climb a 30-Foot Ore Wall, Learn About Chicago’s Industrial History, and Enjoy Nature

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND

Industrial, smoke-belching dragons once loomed along the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago. These steel mills were tended by tens of thousands of workers who manufactured the steel that was used to build the bridges, buildings, Pullman rail cars, and other structures of America. The steel mills (pictured below) are long gone, but portions of these former industrial sites are now being reimagined as an eco-recreation and nature mecca. One especially promising area is Steelworkers Park (87th at S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60617) in the South Chicago neighborhood. (More destinations are listed at the end of this article.)

Steelworkers Park is located where the U.S. Steel Complex, which was known as South Works steel mills, once stood. At its peak, South Works and other steelworks had more than 30,000 employees, many of whom were immigrants. The district says that “it covered an area of 600 acres, much of which was composed of landfill made of molten slag.” South Works closed in 1992. The Chicago Park District purchased the site in 2002, and opened 16.5-acre Steelworkers Park in 2014.

What’s unique about this Chicago park (#523) is that some of the towering ruins of South Works have been retained to show the area’s history and to provide recreational opportunities that are typically unavailable in the area. In addition, herculean efforts have been made to re-wild this sprawling former industrial site at the confluence of Lake Michigan and the Calumet River. From 2004 to 2013, barges delivered 1,500 tons of unwanted sediment from Peoria Lake in Central Illinois to cover the slag and other industrial products generated during steel production. Today, Steelworkers Park is a serene and beautiful place that also offers a good dose of Chicago’s industrial history in a small area.

Here are nine things you can do at Steelworkers Park:

Go Climbing and Bouldering

This park looks nothing like most Chicago parks, with their baseball diamonds and acres and acres of manicured lawns. Instead, you’ll encounter—and get the chance to climb and boulder—a towering 30-foot historic ore wall, where ships used to unload the raw materials that were used in steel manufacturing.

The Chicago Park District says that the climbing wall is suitable for all experience levels, with climbing grades ranging from 5.2 to 5.7. But it also warns that visitors climb at their own risk.

The park district posts a Community Climb Schedule on its website. These free, facilitated community climbing events are offered in the summer to those ages 8 and up (climbers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). All necessary climbing equipment (e.g. harness, helmet, climbing shoes) is provided. You must register to participate in this program, although walk-ups are welcome if there is space. Visitors can also bring their own equipment to climb when no formal events are scheduled.

I know what climbing is, but I’d never heard of bouldering before I visited Steelworkers Park. Bouldering involves climbing low to the ground (i.e., on the bottom third of the climbing wall) without the use of ropes. As you can see below, my book, Nature in Chicagoland, was inspired to do some bouldering. Who would have known that my book likes to boulder!

Learn More About the Industrial History of the Area on a Hiking Trail

In addition to walking the grounds and viewing the towering ore walls, you’ll get the chance to see three massive industrial artifacts that played a key role in steel production in the area, but which also look as if they could have been created by sculptors and would not be out of place in the courtyard of Art Institute Chicago. The 26-ton and 14-ton blast furnace bells came from the former Acme Steel blast furnace, which was located at 107^th Street and Burley. According to the CPD, these massive bells “provided a method of evenly distributing the iron, coke, and limestone into the furnace from above, and then sealing it off without loss of gases or heat.” The third artifact is an ingot mould pattern, which was used at the Bethlehem Steel facility in Burns Harbor, Indiana.

Informational signs throughout the park provide historical information and context to visitors, as well as efforts regarding ecological restoration of the area.

Steelmaking continues along the Indiana shore—but with far fewer workers. On a clear day, look south along the lake to see operating blast furnaces along the Indiana shoreline.

If you’re interested in labor history, you should learn more about the 1937 Memorial Day Massacre, which occurred near the Republic Steel mill on Chicago’s Southeast Side. Ten unarmed, pro-labor marchers were killed by police while protesting poor working conditions in the steel mills and advocating for higher wages. The deaths fueled outrage over the unchecked power of the steel corporations and fueled the labor rights movement. By 1941, Republic Steel recognized the steelworkers’ right to organize. You can watch a documentary about the massacre at this website.

View a “Tribute to the Past”

A statue by artist and former steel mill worker Roman Villarreal celebrates the union steelworkers who made the steel that helped build our skyscrapers, highways, railroads, and other structures throughout the United States and the world. The statue does not depict steelworkers on the job, but instead shows a steelworker surrounded by his family. Villarreal told the great Geoffrey Baer for a WTTW feature that the steelworker always represented family to him. “I could have gone over here and [done] a steelworker with a sledgehammer and somebody working and all that,” Villarreal told Baer. “But that’s really not what the mill was about. The mill was a family, because every man that worked in the steel mill was a family man.” You can watch Baer’s interview with Villarreal here.

The statue’s inscription reads, “To all the union men and women and their families who shared the steel dreams.” My father (may he rest in peace) was a proud union member and my brother still is. Several members of my wife’s family are also union members, and my wife’s uncle (Louie) worked at Acme Steel (which later became Interlake Steel Corp.) (In a nonunion position, my mother-in-law Kathy worked at U.S. Steel after graduating from high school.) It’s nice to see unions becoming more appreciated lately after years of demonization by some politicians.

Walk Amongst Wildflowers in the Mild and Warm Seasons

There is a short footpath that leads from the iron ore walls to the industrial artifacts. It passes wildflowers and a small woodland before turning north along Lake Michigan back toward the walls.

Go Birding

Participate in birding and nature walks that are hosted by the Chicago Audubon Society, Chicago Ornithological Society, and other organizations—or spend some time on your own birdwatching. According to eBird, more than 230 bird species have been sighted at Steelworkers Park. A list of birds is available here. Earlier this year, a Ross’s gull—an extremely rare visitor from the high Arctic—was spotted at the park. What a beautoful bird!

Cast a Line

Go fishing on the lake or near the Calumet River (to the south of the park) or North Slip.

Enjoy Views of Lake Michigan

While you’re engaging in these aforementioned activities, take some time to look out into Lake Michigan, our vast inland sea. One moment, it can appear shimmeringly happy, sun-shiny blue, and ashen, angry gray a few minutes later. The same goes for the sky, which is big and wonderful as you look out from the shore. I love the many moods and color palettes of the lake and sky.

Enjoy the Solitude—at Least Most Days

It’s mind-blowing that a place that was so busy, so noisy, and so smelly during its heyday is now almost abandoned given the time of your visit. It’s as if the yin and yang of life have rebalanced the area to make up for its busy past. During my visit, I saw one person fishing in this distance and passed only two other people on the trail. I found the solitude I was seeking just 12 miles from downtown Chicago.

Before You Go:

Steelworker’s Park is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
There is ample parking.
The area is wheelchair accessible.
There is a Divvy station should you want to rent a bike.
Steelworker’s Park is accessible via public transportation, but it’s not easy to use public transportation to get there.

Additional Information:

You can view historical photos of South Works here.

Click here to read “Steelworkers Park: the Manufacturing Industry and Labor Movements in Chicago.”

Click here to learn more about eco-recreation in Chicago’s southland.

Random Thoughts:

I once took an Amtrak train to Washington, DC., and the tracks travel through industrial, lakeshore Indiana. Growing up in Chicago, one already knows that its southern lakeshore is loaded with heavy industry, but until you see it up close you do not realize that one of the nine circles of hell exists on the shores of our beautiful lake. Who knows what type of life-shortening toxins are being emitted from all these processing plants. (Well, environmental scientists do; US Steel and BP are two of the biggest offenders). I kept thinking, what would the south end of our lake look like today if the robber barons of the 1800s had not decided to use it as a manufacturing mecca and industrial dumping ground? On the other hand, would Chicago have become a major city without these decisions? We’ll never know.

Nearby Nature Destinations

While you’re in the area, check out the following nature areas (with links to my stories about these areas below):

Indian Ridge Marsh Park: A Bird Haven and a Story of Environmental Rebirth (about 5.3 miles southwest)

Big Marsh Park: Spectacular Bike Tracks, Bountiful Birding, and Much More (about 6.5 miles southwest)

Hegewisch Marsh Park: Great Birdwatching and Hiking and an Inspiring Story of Ongoing Environmental Restoration (about 7 miles southwest)

Powderhorn Prairie, Marsh, and Lake: A Unique Dune and Swale Landscape, Fishing, and an Exciting Restoration Project (about 7.7 miles south)

Burnham Prairie Nature Preserve: A Birdwatching Hotspot (about 8.4 miles southwest)

Sand Ridge Nature Center: Indoor and Outdoor Education and Fun in All Seasons (about 11 miles southwest)

Copyright (photos) Andrew Morkes, except the historical images of South Works (copyright Pullman State Historic Site; Southeast Chicago Historical Society; William Brubaker Collection-University of Illinois Chicago; Charles W. Cushman) and the photo of a Ross’s gull (copyright Shiloh Schulte, USFWS)

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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.

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

I have been a writer and editor for more than 25 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the editorial director of the CAM Report career newsletter and College Spotlight newsletter; 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).