CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Park District has opened what it calls the “Uptown Coastal Natural Area.”
The park district says the six acre area, where the homeless once pitched tents, west of the drive between Lawrence and Wilson, features a selection of biodiverse native lawn alternatives being tested for use elsewhere.
It includes native prairie and savanna wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs.
Chicago Park District Superintendent Rosa Escareno said the native plantings "help reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.”
The park district matched a $116,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the project.
Furthermore, the park district said there are habitats for pollinators and resting stops for migratory birds and that the Coastal Natural Area establishes a place for nature observation and respite in a section of the Uptown community that is densely populated and highly urbanized.
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