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NOTICE: Select areas of the Garfield Park Natural Area will be mowed in July 2025. 
The restoration and improvement of native habitat is a long-term process that requires ongoing management. 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.

The Garfield Park Natural Area contains about 22 acres of prairie, savanna, woodland, wetland, and aquatic habitat. The lagoon surrounds the Garfield "Gold Dome" Fieldhouse, on both sides of Central Park Avenue between Washington Boulevard and Lake Street. Observe plants such as black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Canada milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis), American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum), and side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). Herons are commonly spotted fishing along the shoreline.

The lagoon is a great spot to fish and offers fishing platforms and fishing line disposal bins for visitors. The lagoon and native plantings are surrounded by paved paths. On the west side, mowed grassy nature trails offer an even closer view of the native habitat.

In addition to maintenance conducted by the park district, Garfield Park Natural Area benefits from the dedication and hard work of volunteers who collect and scatter native seed, plant native species, pick up trash, monitor vegetation and birds, and remove invasive species. Learn more about volunteer opportunities by visiting our Community Stewardship Program page.

Help keep wildlife wild, safe, and healthy by following posted signage and Natural Areas Rules and Regulations. For questions regarding ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Natural Areas, email nature@chicagoparkdistrict.com. 

Garfield Park Lagoon Tree Guide

Learn more about your local trees with . Scattered around the West Lagoon you will find 50 trees indicated with a round numbered tag. See also this or pick up a printed paper guide at the Garfield Park Fieldhouse (Gold Dome).
 

Natural Area Improvements

A planning process began in 2020 to improve and expand native habitats around the Garfield Park lagoon. The project aims to add approximately five acres of habitat for native plants and animals, reduce the prevalence of invasive species, create a more engaging and immersive space to observe and learn about nature, improve site aesthetics with short-statured blooming flowers from spring to fall, and provide ecosystem benefits such as reduced water run-off, improved water quality, as well as benefit the mental and physical health of park visitors from being in and around nature.

Timeline

Early 1900s: Lagoon is designed, constructed, and installed with native and ornamental plantings.

2019: Natural Areas community stewardship program begins at Garfield Park Natural Area.

Winter 2020: Natural Areas volunteers, Park Advisory Council, and ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ first meet to discuss the potential of an expansion area around the lagoon.

Winter-Summer 2021: CPD holds several virtual and on-site meetings with PAC and community members () and modifies plan based on feedback.

Fall 2021 and beyond: Project begins, including invasive species removal, native plant installation, fishing station installation, and improved signage. Management of the new plantings will continue in future years.

Restoration of native habitat is a long-term process that requires ongoing maintenance such as mowing, controlling weeds, and prescribed burning. This area will look very different throughout the seasons and each year, so visit often to see the progress!