Enjoy your visit to a 快播视频 natural area! Review the FAQs and follow the rules & regulations below to protect plants, animals, and native habitats. Leave nature as you find it for others to enjoy, and help us keep wildlife wild, safe, and healthy.
If you encounter someone violating the 快播视频 rules or regulations in Natural Areas, please contact 快播视频 Security at (312) 747-2193. For emergencies, call 911.
For additional rules pursuant to all 快播视频 parks and facilities, view the 快播视频 Code.
Rules & Regulations
Hours
Natural Areas are open from dawn to dusk.
Pets
Pets are not allowed within Natural Areas. Birds and other animals see dogs and cats (even small or friendly ones) as predators, and pets have been known to bark at, chase, or even kill wildlife. Studies have shown that the presence of a dog, even if it is well-behaved and on a short leash, can alter wildlife behavior more than a human walking through the same space alone. Wildlife may run or fly away, stop feeding, or even be deterred from entering areas where dogs have left their mark. And, people see more wildlife in areas where dogs are not allowed. Leashed pets are welcome in most areas of the parks, other than beaches and Natural Areas. Visit the dog-friendly areas page to find a park space that permits off-leash dogs.
Trails
Stay on paths and trails and do not enter fenced-off areas. Avoid using wet trails鈥搃f you leave footprints, you are damaging the trail. You can also reduce your likelihood of encountering ticks by staying on trails.
Collecting
No collecting, hunting, trapping, removal, or damage to plants, animals, or other park features is permitted. This includes, but is not limited to individual organisms, wood, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits/seeds, fungi, and inorganic material. Fishing from designated areas, in compliance with state licensing requirements, is permitted (see Fishing Areas for more information). For scientific research projects that propose monitoring or collection, see the Research Permit page.
Feeding Wildlife
For the protection of animals and visitors alike, feeding wildlife is prohibited. There are many reasons for this. Certain types of food can be harmful to different types of animals. Animals that are habituated to humans are more vulnerable to harm and may react unpredictably, such as by biting or scratching. Young animals that learn to rely on human food may not be able to feed themselves effectively when older. When people feed animals, animals often gather in unusual concentrations and are at higher risk of spreading diseases to each other, as well as to humans and pets. Urban raccoons, for example, are at high risk for rabies and roundworm, which can spread to humans, as well as distemper and parvovirus, which can spread to dogs. The best ways to support local wildlife are advocating for conservation and research, as well as volunteering to expand and improve native habitats by planting native plants and removing invasive species.
Wheels
Motorized vehicle use, bicycling, skating, skateboarding, or use of any other recreational pedestrian conveyance devices are not allowed within Natural Areas. Mobility devices used by individuals with physical limitations are welcome.
Fires
Fires are not allowed in Natural Areas. Grilling is allowed only in designated areas. Please use dedicated red 鈥渦sed-coal鈥 receptacles and do not dump coals on the ground or at the foot of trees. This will damage or kill trees and may start wildfires. For information about the 快播视频鈥檚 prescribed burn program, see Prescribed Burn FAQs.
Swimming
Swimming and wading are not permitted in Natural Areas. For a list of permitted swimming locations, see Beaches.
Fishing
Fishing in designated areas, with annual compliance with state requirements, is permitted. Please fish from hard surfaces and do not stand on vegetation. Standing at the shoreline edge causes damage to native habitat and causes erosion. Learn more about fishing in the parks at Fishing Areas.
Smoking & Alcohol Use
Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted on 快播视频 property. Alcohol is not allowed except as part of a permitted event or if purchased from licensed 快播视频 concessions/vendors.
Trash & Recycling
Pack in, pack out. Help keep the parks clean by using designated trash and recycling bins. If a bin is overflowing, contact the Park Supervisor listed on the 快播视频 webpage for each park.
Events
Some outdoor activities and events require a permit. For example, amplified sound, tents, stages, and events with 50 or more people require a permit. Photography and/or videography for special events, commercial projects, documentaries, or school projects also require a permit. Learn more about permits and how to apply.
FAQs
Below are several Frequently Asked Questions about 快播视频 Natural Areas.
Throughout Chicago, our park system is filled with nature. The 快播视频 contains nearly 2,000 acres of Natural Areas, critical habitat for local and migratory wildlife. Natural Areas encompass a rich diversity of ecosystem types, ranging from prairies and savannas to woodlands, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and dunes. These unique places also provide opportunities to explore nature, hike, volunteer, or simply enjoy the richness and beauty of nature in its many forms.
快播视频 Natural Areas are open to the public from dawn to dusk daily unless otherwise posted.
Visit the 快播视频 Natural Areas homepage to view a map and webpage for each Natural Area. To view the boundaries of Natural Areas, view .
The rules and regulations that pertain to Natural Areas protect plants, animals, and native habitats can be found on this page. If you encounter someone violating the 快播视频 rules or regulations in Natural Areas, please contact 快播视频 Security at 312-747-2193. For emergencies, call 911. For additional rules pursuant to all 快播视频 parks and facilities, see the 快播视频 Code,
Community stewardship of Natural Areas can include litter pickup, trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, native plant installation, as well as nature-based activities such as birding and plant identification walks. Please visit our Community Stewardship Program page for more information on volunteering in Natural Areas.
Birds and other animals see dogs and cats (even small or friendly ones) as predators, and pets have been known to bark at, chase, or even kill wildlife. Studies have shown that the presence of a dog, even if it is well-behaved and on a short leash, can alter wildlife behavior more than a human walking through the same space alone. Wildlife may run or fly away, stop feeding, or even be deterred from entering areas where dogs have left their mark. People also see more wildlife in areas where dogs are not allowed. Leashed pets are welcome in most areas of the parks, other than beaches and Natural Areas. Visit the dog-friendly areas page to find a park space that permits off-leash dogs.
Mowing is a common management tool, particularly in the early years of a habitat restoration project. Mowing reduces the pressure of weeds, particularly annual and biennial species, that grow very quickly and can outcompete native perennial seedlings, which grow much more slowly. While mowing can be jarring to see, the overall goal is to increase the odds of success of native plants to improve the long-term ecological quality of an area.
Trees and shrubs may be cut down for several reasons, including disease, structural instability, damage from storms, when they pose a risk to public safety, or if they are weedy or invasive species. The Park District aims to replace removed trees when possible, but they may not always be replaced in the exact location where a tree was removed.
Fires are not allowed in Natural Areas. Grilling in parks is allowed only in designated areas. Please use dedicated red 鈥渦sed-coal鈥 receptacles and do not dump coals on the ground or at the foot of trees, as that will damage or kill trees and may start wildfires.
oraging, collecting, hunting, trapping, removal, or damage to plants, animals, or other park features is not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, individual organisms, wood, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits/seeds, fungi, and inorganic material. Fishing from designated areas, in compliance with state requirements, is permitted (see Fishing Areas for more information). For scientific research projects that involve monitoring or collection, see the Research Permit page. If you see someone damaging or removing natural materials from a park, contact Park District security at 312-747-2193.
Some outdoor activities and events require a permit. For example, amplified sound, tents, stages, and events with 50 or more people require a permit. Photography and/or videography for special events, commercial projects, documentaries, or school projects also require a permit. For a more detailed list and information on how to apply, view the Permits & Rentals 101 page.
For questions regarding 快播视频 Natural Areas, email nature@chicagoparkdistrict.com.