SOUTH SHORE NATURE SANCTUARY HOSTS MONTHLY STEWARDSHIP DAYS

The South Shore Nature Sanctuary (pictured) is a hidden gem on the south lakefront where The Chicago Park District, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, will host monthly Stewardships Days from now through October. Photo Credit: The Nature Conservancy/Emanuel Love
The South Shore Nature Sanctuary (pictured) is a hidden gem on the south lakefront where The Chicago Park District, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, will host monthly Stewardships Days from now through October. Photo Credit: The Nature Conservancy/Emanuel Love

South Shore Nature Sanctuary Hosts Monthly Stewardship Days

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Many people from across the city know of the historic South Shore Cultural Center located on 7059 S. South Shore Dr., but what some might not know about this ornate 100-year-old building is that it sits on a 65-acre park that is home to a golf course, tennis courts, a lakefront beach, and the South Shore Nature Sanctuary.

Originally known as the South Shore Country Club, the South Shore Cultural Center was built in 1905 as a golf course on the city’s southern lakefront.

The country club’s membership reached its height in the late 1950s as African American families were beginning to move into the South Shore neighborhood. The private club specifically excluded black people and as a result it quickly went out of business by the 1970s, according to the Chicago Park District.

After sitting vacant for a short period of time, the Chicago Park District purchased the property with a plan to demolish the clubhouse but thanks to efforts by community members, the historic building was saved and rehabilitated, according to the Chicago Park District.

Today, the South Shore Cultural Center is arguably one of the Chicago Park District’s greatest assets and through their partnership with The Nature Conservancy, community residents are invited to come to the South Shore Nature Sanctuary on the third Saturday of every month from now through October to participate in Stewardship Days.

“The South Shore Nature Sanctuary is a beautiful sight on the lakefront that is really a hidden gem behind the Cultural Center. It’s unique because it’s pretty small, relatively, but it makes up several different habitat types. We have a native dune habitat, we have a native prairie habitat, we have native shrubland, and a wetland habitat all in one location there which is pretty incredible,” said Forrest Cortes, Chicago director of community engagements for The Nature Conservancy.

During the Stewardship Days, participants will not only be able to enjoy the features of the South Shore Nature Sanctuary but they will also have the opportunity to participate in restoring native habitats for birds, insects, and Chicagoans within the Nature Sanctuary.

Each Stewardship Day will have different focuses that will depend on the needs of the site and the time of year. Right away, they will be focused on cleaning up after the winter and then in late spring, volunteers will be able to begin planting at the site. During summer, participants will learn about invasive plant species and how to remove them and as fall approaches, they will work on seed collection and possibly do a little bit more planting, according to Cortes.

“There’s kind of like an arc of things that we do depending on what season it is and it’s really fun to get out to each of the different days because even though you might have been before, you’re probably doing something different each time you come out,” said Cortes. To learn more visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

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