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A N A T I O N A L P A R K S E R V I C E n R I V E R S & T R A I L Sn I L L I N O I S n

Illinois & Michigan Canal Origins ParkPROJECT GOAL

Restore an important historic landmark, facilitate cultural and environmental educationprograms, and provide public open space for underserved neighborhoods.

R T C AC O N S E R V A T I O N

SUCCESS STORYConservation works today at the

local level. Citizens in thousands

of grassroots groups are

protecting places that are

important to them: nearby rivers,

open space for the community,

and trails linking town and

country. The Rivers, Trails and

Conservation Assistance program

(RTCA) supports this grassroots

movement as an important part

of the National Park Service

mission to protect Americas

natural and cultural resources.

The Service increasingly is being

called on to support the

conservation efforts of state and

local governments and citizens

organizations.

RTCA becomes involved when

formally asked by the landowners,

local officials, and citizens who

share the desire to protector

to improvetheir communities.

All projects are founded on cost

sharing, cooperation, and

community initiative. In these

partnerships, the Services role is

to help achieve goals set

collectively by the partners.

About The ProjectThe Chicago neighborhood of Bridgeport andthe Canal Origins Site are historicallysignificant for many reasons. Bridgeport, oneof the citys oldest neighborhoods, was animportant trading center prior to the 1830s.It was also the starting point (where the firstlock was constructed) of the Illinois andMichigan (I&M) Canal, which greatlyenhanced industry and business in bothBridgeport and Chicago. This area was alsonear the famous Chicago slaughterhouses,steel mills, and lumber yards which providedimportant commerce to the region andemployment for residents. The site nowcontains the citys last remnants of the historiccanal era.

I&M Canal Origins Park is a 1.8-acretriangular area located in the midst of a busyindustrial district on Chicagos near southside. It is also one of the largest pieces ofundeveloped land available to local residents.For many years, the site had been filled withrubble and building debris providing an area

for small businesses. After abandonment of agas station, a locally-owned seafood restau-rant remained the sites sole occupant. Viewsof Chicago Rivers South Fork (known locallyas Bubbly Creek) were blocked by a densethicket of vegetation and access hampered byprecipitous slopes down to the river.

For many years the Canal CorridorAssociation has promoted the transfer of thisproperty to a public land managing agency forpublic use and long-term protection. Inaddition, the Association has facilitated

The Origins Site was the location of the control lockbetween the South Branch of the Chicago River(foreground) and the Illinois & Michigan Canal.Courtesy of Louis University Canal Collection

PROJECT RESULTS

' Initiated actions to commemorate and interpretan important historic landmark.

' Stabilized steep and highly erodable riverbanks.

' Enhanced open space for public use.

' Reduced soil erosion resulting from stormwaterrunoff.

' Developed recreational and educational facilities.

The Secretary of the Interior assists CYC FellowshipHouse youth with restoration activities at the CanalOrigins site. Courtesy of Canal Corridor Association.

LIST OF PARTNERS Applied EcologicalServices, Inc. providedecological restoration expertiseand native vegetation to stabilizeriverbanks.

Canal CorridorAssociation continues topromote site preservation andimprovement through educationalprograms and public art.

Chicago Park Districtacquired the property from theState of Illinois, and will completesite development and public useprogramming.

Chicago Youth CentersFellowship House cleared thesite, stabilized riverbanks, plantednative species, and built informaltrails.

Friends of the ChicagoRiver provided river education,conducted clean-up days, and leadcanoe tours.

Illinois Chapter of theAmerican Society ofLandscape Architectsconducted a design charette withFellowship House for localresidents to discuss ideas for siterestoration.

Illinois Department ofNatural Resources removedsite contaminants and fundedconstruction of the non-motorized boat launch.

National Park Servicefacilitated the involvement ofCYC Fellowship House and localresidents, and coordinated siteimprovement activities.

Urban Resources Partner-ship in Chicago providedtechnical assistance throughpartner organizations.

educational programs explaining the historicaspects of the canal and its origins inBridgeport. Through these efforts, the sitehas been designated by the City of Chicago asa historic landmark of cultural and historicalsignificance. The site is also significant as oneof the few remaining features of the I&MCanal within the City of Chicago.

In response to the lack of green space intheir Bridgeport neighborhood, the ChicagoYouth Centers (CYC) Fellowship Housebegan developing community gardens. Thegroup then began looking for vacant land onwhich to do environmental enhancementactivities. The canal origins site, an areanicknamed by the youth as the Amazon,was chosen. The Fellowship House wasawarded a grant from the Urban ResourcesPartnership of Chicago to clean up the siteand initiate a variety of restoration activities.Since then, the youth center has removed thelarge accumulation of debris and invasiveplants, stabilized portions of the river bankby building terraces and planting grasses,and developed informal trails to encouragepublic use. Through these valuableexperiences, Fellowship House staff haveestablished an environmental program for allinterested youtha first for the ChicagoYouth Centers.

As recipient of the first Urban ResourcePartnership river initiative grant, FellowshipHouse continued its activities at the site. Sitetours conducted by the youth have explainedthe areas rich history and recovering naturalenvironment. A local contractor workingwith Fellowship House has completed

extensive riverbank grading in preparation forthe many facilities planned for the CanalOrigins Park.

Future collaborative efforts of the ChicagoPark District, Canal Corridor Association andCYC Fellowship House will include plantingof native prairie and wetland plants to reducesurface run-off and catch pollutants; buildingwalkways and benches; installing historicinterpretation signs; constructing a non-motorized boat launch for canoes and kayaks;and developing various educational programsfor local school students and residents, as wellas visitors to the National Heritage Corridor.

An area resident and her daughter helped removeyears of debris and litter from the site during anannual River Rescue Day event. Courtesy of Friendsof the Chicago River.

For more information contact:National Park Service77 West Jackson BoulevardWW-16JChicago, Illinois 60604(312) 886-1437

A local contractor,working with CYCFellowship House,completed an extensivere-grading of theriverbank, successfullystabilizing the highlyerodable soils.Courtesy of dr/BaltiContracting Co., Inc.