Revealing a river once blocked from view takes work.

City of Northbrook

Once hidden and ignored, the Chicago River is now accessible to everyone. Native plants replaced invasive species along 1,390 feet of restored stream bank. The creation of ten pool and riffle complexes adds oxygen and provides habitat for fish and aquatic insects. And the city of Northbrook retrofitted an adjacent parking lot with new water quality filters to protect the river from polluted runoff.

Lake Katherine Nature Preserve

Located on the Cal Sag Channel in Palos Heights, this preserve was created on a spoil site in 1986. Today, Lake Katherine boasts 3.5 miles of trails, restored prairie and woodlands, planted gardens, and a nature center. Unusual migrant birds include large flocks of white pelicans.