One hundred and one years ago, two men put to the public a plan for the future development of Chicago. The document, Plan for Chicago, was co-authored by Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett. It recommended standardizing the grid, widening the streets, a regional highway, citywide rail lines, new parks and most important, reclaiming the lakefront for the city’s citizens. “The Lakefront by right belongs to the people,” wrote Burnham. “Not a foot of its shores should be appropriated to the exclusion of the people.” The plan called for the creation of manmade island parks. Only one was ever completed…
Chicago is not blessed with nature the way Boston is. There are no nearby ocean lawns, mountains or forests. The state parks are not so close. Lake Michigan is the wildest and best friend to the Chicagoan naturalist. Its important to have a solid connection to the lake. That is why I take time to cycle and jog along the lakefront path. Under grey clouds and in forty degrees I rode Etta’s bike to my southernmost destination yet. In grey sweatpants and a grey sweater, listening to a handheld transistor radio on headphones, I jogged the length of Northerly Island.
The clouds were moving liquid fast. When I got home I warmed up on the back porch in the rocking chair and daydreamed that I was submerged in Lake Michigan, watching the grey curls undulate towards the shore from below.
Stay warm and dry, 3rdarm. Winter’s coming on. Get by the fire.