Chicago Park District Natural Areas

Did you know that spending even just one hour a day outdoors in nature can help children (and adults) reduce stress, build immunity, lose weight, and increase imaginative play? Natural areas offer Chicago residents and guests a variety of opportunities to discover and appreciate the richness and beauty of nature in its many forms. There are more than 90+ designated natural areas in Chicago's parks. From rich pond life teeming with frogs, herons, and dragonflies, to shrubby areas where migratory birds stop to rest, to lush prairies filled with native grasses and wildflowers, the Park District offers many ways to explore nature.