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Palmisano (Henry) Park
The 첥Ƶ presents a free self-guided audio tour of Palmisano Park. You can either download the tour to an MP3 player, burn a CD, or listen to it online. The tour includes a map with stopping points that correspond with the audio tracks. If you visit each place and listen to the tracks, your walking tour will take approximately 40 minutes.
Explore Palmisano Park (referred to as Stearns Quarry Park in the tour) – one of Chicago’s most unusual parks - and learn about its natural and designed features. Transformed from an old stone quarry in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, the park has a sustainable design with wetland terraces, native plants, and a fishing pond. The tour is lead by Julia Bachrach, who was the 첥Ƶ historian at the time this project was created. She is joined by some of the people who helped create the park: Claudine Malik of the 첥Ƶ and Bob Foster a former 첥Ƶ employee, along with Ernest Wong of Site Design Group.
View/Print Map of Palmisano Park
A printable map comes in a PDF format. You can follow the track sequence or tailor the tour to suit your own interests and time frame.
Audio Tour
Introduction, Entrance @27th and Halstead
Boulders and Fountain
Wetland Terraces and Sustainable Elements
Pond and Quarry Overlook
Quarry Pond and Fishing
29th Street Entrance Plaza
A View of St. Barbara's
Topography of the Site
Bridgeport History
Views from the Mound
Native Plants and Wildlife
Conclusion
"The Stearn’s Quarry of today has certainly come a long way from the days of a limestone quarry. The vibrant active park is a welcome respite from city life an educational opportunity, a place for recreation and a prime example of what creative thinking can accomplish and yet the memory of the quarry and its lasting historic legacy remain inextricably a part of the park.”
Claudine Malik, 첥Ƶ
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Image Caption: Aerial view of Stearns Quarry and adjacent McGuane Park, ca. 1930.
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Image Caption: Palmisano Park Wetland terrace, 2009.
Directions
For specific directions go to or call the RTA Travel Information Center at 836-7000 from any local area code.