oak forest heritage preserve - forest preserves...

oak forest heritage preserve master plan & vision

Prepared for:Forest Preserve District of Cook CountyCook County Real Estate Management Division

Prepared by:Conservation Design Forum with:Bluestone + AssociatesEnvironmental Design InternationalMidwest Archaeological Research Services, Inc.Primera Engineers

executive summaryJuly 2012

Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Master Plan

Residents enjoy watermelon outside the Oak Forest Hospital.

Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Master Plan 1

project parcel map

Cook County Corner Parcel

46.9 acres

Cook County Cicero Parcel

23.9 acres

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Parcel

176.3 acres

Oak Forest Health Center

81.7 acres

executivesummary

Project Summary & PurposeTh e Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Master Plan is a comprehensive vision for the future development, public use, and long-term management of the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve. Th e plan is intended to help guide circulation and access improvements, ecological and site restoration, memorialization of sacred space, implementation of recreational amenities, and the preservation and interpretation of the rich natural and cultural history of the Preserve and adjacent properties. Th e plan addresses four parcels: the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) Parcel, and three others immediately adjacent to the Preserve—the Corner Parcel, the Oak Forest Health Center (OFHC), and the Cicero Parcel, all owned by Cook County.

All uses and development proposed for the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve in this Master Plan are consistent with the mission of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County…to restore, restock, protect and preserve the natural forests and such lands together with their fl ora and fauna, as nearly as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the purpose of the education, pleasure, and recreation of the public…

Future uses will also recognize ecosystem health, preservation of historic resources, protection and interpretation, and the partnership with the Oak Forest Health Center.

Planning ProcessTh e master planning process began in the fall of 2011, when a team of consultants led by Conservation Design Forum, Inc. (CDF) was retained to assist the FPDCC and Cook County in the analysis and planning of the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve. Acquired in 2010 by the FPDCC, the property warranted detailed investigation and documentation of the site’s ecological and cultural features, as well as the rich history of human activity and interaction over many millennia. Th ese discoveries helped guide the development of the Master Plan. Th e team CDF assembled included experts in all aspects of naturally and culturally sustainable planning practice: Conservation Design Forum, Inc. (Project Lead, Landscape Architecture, Planning), Bluestone + Associates (Interpretive Planning), Environmental Design International (Environmental Assessment), Midwest Archaeological Research Services, Inc. (Cultural Resources), and Primera Engineers (Engineering).

Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Master Plan2

executive summary

regional context map

to downtown Chicago

Will County

Cook County

43

50

80

57

294

83

143rd St

6

175th St

Metra R

ock Is

land

Sundrop Prairie Nature Preserve

Paintbrush Prairie Nature Preserve

Turtlehead Lake Forest

Preserve

Nelson Woods

Burr Oak Woods

Gensburg-Markham Prairie Preserve

Oak Forest Metra

Arbor Park Middle

Morton Gingerwood Elementary

W. 159th St

Oak Forest

Markham

Midlothian

Tinley Park

Country Club Hills

St. Mihiel Reservation

Yankee Woods

South Green Belt Forest

Bachelor Grove Woods

Elizabeth A. Conkey Forest

Rubio Woods

Midlothian Meadows

Fieldcrest Elementary

DePaul University

Markham Park Elementary

St. Gerard Majella

McClaughery School

Breman Community High

Central Park ElementaryOak Forest High

Jack Hille Middle

Foster Elementary

Scarlet Oak Elementary

Kerkstra Middle

St. Damien Elementary

Legend

Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Forest Preserve District of Cook County properties The Nature Conservancy prairies

schooluniversityMetra stationpark trailstrail connectioncounty line

north0’ 1,000’ 2,000’ 4,000’ 6,000’


executive summary

Project Goals Th e Master Plan goals are to:

• Restore the ecological landscape, improve surface water management, and provide new recreation improvements consistent with the FPDCC’s mission;

• Showcase the rich cultural history of the site;• Identify opportunities for continued connections

between the Oak Forest Health Center and the Forest Preserve District properties, while addressing the security needs of both; and

• Explore connections to the larger community.

Telling the StoryTh e Oak Forest Heritage Preserve is a site with a complex and interconnected set of stories of human history, archaeology, geology, ecology and natural history that span millennia. Th e property has seen changes in occupancy and use that have aff ected the health of those living on it and upon the land itself. Th e following is a generalized chronology of the evolution of use:

Th e geologic formation of the site and region;

Th ousands of years of nomadic hunting and foraging;

More recent Native American settlement and seasonal agriculture;

Modern industrialized agriculture and the development of mechanized farming practices that largely relied on monocultures (growing just one type of crop);

Th e development of the Oak Forest Poor Farm and Infi rmary;

Th e interment of tens of thousands of indigents from the Poor Farm and the County;

Th e development and progression of the Oak Forest Health Center; and

Th e next chapter of use as the Master Plan vision is realized.

Pogie Lake

ancient past

sustainablefuture


executive summary

Site Analysis - Key FindingsCultural & Geological ContextNative American SettlementAft er the last retreat of the Wisconsin Glacier approximately 14,000 years ago, the land area that includes the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve has been a place of signifi cance. Th is is due largely to its location at the transition between a morainal ridge left behind by the retreating glacier and the fl at, open land of the Chicago Lake Plain, approximately 25-30 feet below. Th e elevation of the moraine above the plains off ered Native American inhabitants refuge from the heat and humidity of low-lying swamps, views of sweeping prairie fi res and the oncoming enemy, and ready access to nearby woodlands for harvesting materials for housing and sustenance. In this position, the recessional edge also provided the best trail location for travel and trading. Th e value of this location to Native American culture was confi rmed in 1958, when an archeological investigation uncovered eight houses and mapped an entire Native American village—the fi rst in northeastern Illinois. Th e site appears to have been occupied approximately around 1680.

Historic VegetationVegetation reported in the area of the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve included oak savanna, oak-hickory forest, mesic and wet prairie, sedge meadow and pond systems. With the exception of wood harvesting, seeding, and mowing, it is possible that some areas of the parcel have been relatively undisturbed since the early surveyor reports, and the oak savanna in the northwest corner of the Oak Forest site may be a remnant of the original woodland described by land surveys in 1822.

Legend

property boundaries

0’ 200’ 400’ 800’ 1200’

north

1929 USGS topography

oak savanna at the Corner Parcel


executive summary

A History of HealingIn 1910, what was to later become Oak Forest Hospital and today’s Oak Forest Health Center, opened its doors as the Cook County Work Farm/Oak Forest Infi rmary, a poor farm and home for the county’s indigent population. Th e location of this institution, 22 miles from Chicago, served as a major stimulus for the 20th century growth of the Oak Forest community. In addition to the Poor Farm, the Oak Forest Infi rmary property also served as a tuberculosis treatment center and burial site for the county’s indigent and many of those who died at Oak Forest Hospital. Written records of these burials have been preserved by Cook County, beginning March 4, 1911, and continuing through November 17, 1971.

Site ConditionsEcological InventoryTh e current ecological conditions at the Preserve include six general plant communities:

Mowed lawn: areas of turf grasses that are maintained by regular mowing.

Oak savanna with lawn: rolling, timbered landscape that include mature oaks.

Bur oak hillside: a small, east-facing slope in the Cicero Parcel that has Bur Oak as the dominate canopy tree, and weedy shrubs in the sub-canopy.

Old fi eld: open fi elds dominated by a mixture of Eurasian grasses and forbs, plus various native species.

Overgrown thicket: disturbed areas comprised primarily of unassociated woody growth.

W. 159th Street Pulaski R

oad

S. C

icer

o A

venu

e

railr

oad

Legendbuildings

lake

stream

property boundaries

0’ 100’ 200’ 400’ 600’

north

87

88

89

90

72

74

67

6864 6566

63

73

4

37

39

40

38

49

50

41

42

43

44

45

46

52 5351

47

48

6 785

91

92

575556

58

59

61

6269

82

11

10

913

79

78

77

31

36

1415 16

12

76

75

30

29

2822

1713

35

34

3332

25

18

19

20

2127

2681

2324

80

70

71

85

54

8360

84

2

Map of the Buildings and Grounds of the Cook

County Infirmary,Tuberculosis Hospital

and Farm Oak Forest Illinois

1916

Administration Bldg.Receiving Bldg.Genl. HospitalMorgueT.B. Nurses HomeGenl. Supt CottageInfirmary Nurses HomeAsst. Supt. CottageWards “C” 1,2,3&4Wards “D” 1,2,3&4Wards “L” 1,2,3&4Protestant ChapelGenl. Dining RoomWards “E” 1,2,3&4

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.

Wards “F” 1,2,3&4Wards “G” 1,2,3&4Genl. KitchenBakeryGen. Bath & Toilet RoomWorkshop Bldg. and MechanWater TowerPower HousePaint ShopRag HouseCrematoryOil House

Smoke StackLaundryStoreroomWards “K” 1,2,3&4GreenhouseCatholic ChapelWards “A” 1,2,3&4Wards “B” 1,2,3&4Aged Couples HomeT.B. Tent ColonyT.B. Office Bldg.T.B. Hospital Bldg. New T.B. HospitalT.B. Dining Hall

School HouseDuty TentDuty TentPoultry Houses & Yards

Frame Farm CottageBrick Farm CottageStables

Frame Storehouses

Tool HouseHog HospitalHog Colony

Antiseptic TanksCement & Floral PieceTennis CourtBaseball GroundsLawn Tool HousesPumping StationCatholic CemeteryCounty CemeteryCounty CemeteryFarm HouseFranciscan Fath. ResidenceCisternSmoke House

Utilety House [sic]Cow BarnsFruit OrchardParking Station General StoreGeneral StoreRailroad StationEastern Casket Co.Lake Rabits Island [sic]

15.16.17.18.19.

20.

21.22.23.24.25.26.

27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.

41.42.43.44.45.46.47.48.49.50.51.52.53.54.

55.56.57.58.59.60.61.62.63.64.65.66.67.68.

69.70.71.72.73.74.75.76.77.78.79.80.81.82.

83.84.85.86.87.88.89.90.91.92.

T.B. Cottage Colony

Poultry Houses & Yards

Hog Houses and Yards

building and grounds map from 1916


executive summary

Wetlands: seven delineated wetland areas, most of marginal to poor quality. Wetland Five contains open water (Pogie Lake) and its associated drainage channels. As part of a largely urbanized watershed, the water levels in Pogie Lake fl uctuate with rainfall runoff , and the site experiences fl ooding. Th e hydrology of the Pogie Lake aquatic complex is still remarkably stable given the largely urbanized condition of the upstream watershed area and drainage channels directing stormwater into the system.

Cultural & Archaeological FindingsDuring the 2011 Phase 1 Cultural Assessment, a reconnaissance survey conducted on the FPDCC and Corner Parcels as part of the background investigation for this Master Plan, Midwest Archaeological Research Services, Inc. employed shovel probes as a means of surveying the land. A total of 411 prehistoric artifacts and 40 historic artifacts were recovered during the survey. All of the prehistoric artifacts are stone, either tools or the by-products of stone tool manufacture and/or re-sharpening. Nine new sites recorded with the Illinois State Museum and the increased boundaries for two of the previously recorded sites. Th ese fi ndings, in conjunction with the fi ndings from the 1958 and 1979 excavations help to establish this site and a unique and valuable archaeological site.

The VisionTh e Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Master Plan is intended to guide the evolution of the property from an inaccessible, environmentally disturbed site with a hidden past, into a preserve that is beautiful, culturally and biologically rich, accessible, and educational. Th e plan includes ecological, cultural, recreational, and interpretive elements that uncover the site’s rich history, and help to defi ne a new future—one in which the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve is a valued, well-utilized amenity embraced by the community of Oak Forest, Cook County, and the region.

tool making debris found at the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve

bur oak hillside

old fi eld


executive summary

native prairienative w

oodlandnative oak savannalow

profile prairierainw

ater enhancement area

wetland

pondm

ajor green screeningm

inor green screeningexisting roadnew

road

Legend

primary path (12’ gravel)

secondary path (8’ gravel)tertiary path (3’ m

owed or gravel)boardw

alkfencepath intersection treatm

entresting spot/overlookinterpretationw

ayfinding“You A

re Here” signs

1. oak savanna

2. health center com

plex

4. poor farm

3. visitor center

5. historic cem

etery

6. wetlands

7. ongoing archeology

8. oak forest site

9. geology &

soils10. restoration: vegetation &

biodiversity

11. restoration: w

ater/hydrology

Pulaski Road

Route 57

S. Cicero Avenue

existing dockexisting gazebo

Fieldcrest Park parking lot

Oak Forest

Health C

enter

upgraded sidew

alk

farmsted

W. 159th S

treet

museum

/ visitor center and restroom

pedestrian and w

ildlife crossing

parking (40 cars)

temporary

parking (12 cars)

temporary

restroom

new signal at

intersection

parking (24 cars)

proposed property easem

ent

alternate pedestrian crossing

relocate, stabilize, and com

bine channel

master site plan


executive summary

Infrastructure ImprovementsVehicular AccessVehicles will access the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve through the existing entrance drive off of 159th Street (currently used for the Oak Forest Health Center) with separated, secure entrances for the OFHC and FPDCC activities.

TrailsA system of trails will loop through the FPDCC parcel and around the OFHC campus. Th e loop path around the OFHC will connect to the Cicero Avenue sidewalk, which will be widened to allow bicycles and pedestrians to safely pass. Th e trail loop around the FPDCC parcel will follow the rolling topography of the site, passing through each type of plant community. A connection between this path and the Fieldcrest neighborhood is proposed through two southward spurs: one to the parking lot at Fieldcrest Park, and the second at Fieldcrest Elementary School.

A number of secondary and tertiary paths off er a more intimate, slower-paced pedestrian experience and provide access to the delineated character zones, cultural amenities, and interpretation.

Adjacent ConnectionsTh e primary path connects the two adjacent Forest Preserves, Midlothian Meadows and St. Mihiel Reservation, in an eff ort to join these fragmented open spaces. A pedestrian and wildlife crossing over 159th Street could potentially be built on the northeast side of the FPDCC Parcel to allow for a safe, grade-separated crossing over 159th Street for people, bicycles, and (potentially) the many wildlife species that live here. Additionally, a new traffi c signal is suggested for the 163rd Street and Cicero Avenue intersection to provide a connection from the Preserve site to the St. Mihiel Reservation and the Twin Lakes.

typical primary path section


executive summary

The Corner Parcel could be restored to an oak savanna, an ecosystem that dominated this area before European settlement.

StructuresTh e proposed Visitor Center would ideally re-use an existing building to house an interpretive museum. A separate restroom could also be installed near the main entrance of the Preserve, as seen on the Master Plan.

Landscape RestorationIn order to achieve a natural landscape that is in harmony with the site, virtually the entire property will need to be re-established with native plant ecosystems appropriate for the climate, geology, hydrology, and other conditions of the overall habitat. Th e Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Master Plan has identifi ed fi ve general plant community types that would be appropriate to establish or reestablish on site, based on initial fi eld observations of existing conditions, historic cultural use, and intended use of the land. Th e communities are native prairie, native woodland, native oak savanna, rainwater enhancement areas, and wetland.

In addition to the restoration areas, this plan envisions the creation of bioinfi ltration and other water absorptive landscapes elements to help recreate natural hydrology for stormwater treatment. Vegetative screens along the edges of the site help ensure separation between confl icting uses and serve as noise and visual buff ers between the Preserve and adjacent properties.

Cultural LandscapesWhile the vast majority of the site is proposed to be preserved and restored as natural/native landscape, some “feature areas” are planned as cultural landscapes, using adapted, compatible plant species.

Farmstead: Th e historic Poor Farm will be “restored” to create the feeling and aesthetic of the working farm of the site’s past. Th e landscape could consist of prairie grasses and perennials, an ornamental orchard, and vegetable and herb plots that could become an active farming or community gardening practice associated


executive summary

A community garden in the Corner Parcel farmstead utilizes the remaining cement infrastructure from historic livestock pens.

with the OFHC’s horticultural therapy program or a local gardening organization.

Historic Cemetery: Although the physical boundaries and extent of burials within the historic cemetery on site are unclear, the Master Plan sets aside a cemetery space in the general location of the historic burials as a place for refl ection and memorial within the Preserve. Th e landscape treatment in the cemetery will be characterized by a grid of mass plantings of low profi le prairie grass species.

Oak Forest Site: Th e Native American Oak Forest site, perhaps the most culturally signifi cant place on the property, should stand apart as a unique part of the Preserve. Th e 17th century Native American dwellings that were uncovered during archaeological excavations in 1958 and 1979 could be marked on the ground using stones or temporarily recreated 3-dimensionally using invasive trees removed from the site during restoration.

Pogie Lake: Restoring the shoreline of Pogie Lake will help to highlight the wildlife that is already present, draw more species to the site, and ensure the long term health of this ecologically and culturally signifi cant feature.

Interpretive PlanAn essential aspect of this Master Plan is the integration of access, controlled views, artwork, landscape, and educational and interactive features into the landscape. Th e addition of informational signage, interpretive elements, and wayfi nding helps to provide an interesting and rewarding experience for visitors.

In total there are eleven distinct locations or stops at which the history and natural history of the site could be interpreted to the visiting public. Th ese stops are located throughout the combined properties on site and could consist of a combination of interpretive signage, wayfi nding, sculpture, and other storytelling tools. Stop would include information on the oak savanna, health


executive summary

A grid of gravel paths planted with low-profi le prairie grasses refl ect the layout of unmarked burial plots beneath.

A full-scale, three-dimensional mammoth sculpture at Hidden Oaks Nature Center is a unique interpretive piece.


executive summary

center complex, Poor Farm, historic cemetery, wetlands, archaeological history, Native American settlement, geology and soils, and ecological restoration.

Project PhasingTh e Master Plan for the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve presents a comprehensive, ecologically, and culturally sustainable transformation for the site that will occur over many years. Th e fi rst phases focus on making the Preserve accessible to public, creating safe vehicular and pedestrian access to the Preserve, and the restoration and enhancement of the hydrology and landscape: Phase 1a would include trail extensions to the Field-crest subdivision, a temporary parking area near the existing gazebo or a small new lot off the OFHC drive, wayfi nding, and “under construction” signage. Public access could be allowed as early as Fall of 2012. Estimated costs: $42,000 – $80,000

Phase 1b would begin in Spring 2013 with the fi rst phase of site improvements, including the initial land-scape restoration, planting in the cemetery, vegetative screening, hydrological improvements, pedestrian paths, and wayfi nding and interpretive stops. Estimated costs: $1.8 - $2.7 million

Phase 1c initiates the improvements on Cook County properties: upgrading the Cicero Avenue sidewalk, restoration in the Corner Parcel, stormwater treatment area establishment, additional signage, and several interpretive stops. Estimated costs: $580,000 - $1 million

Phase 1d begins initial improvements to the Oak For-est Health Center Campus, such as a path around the health center, landscape restoration, stormwater treat-ment area establishment, and additional temporary wayfi nding signage. Estimated costs: $86,900 – 138,000

Th e cost of the initial phases of the improvements is estimated at $2.5 to 3.9 million and would be funded from existing FPDCC Capital Funds.

All further site work and improvements would depend on securing funding and potential partners; these “future phases” would include the creation of feature areas like the cemetery and farmstead, the visitor’s center, fi nal interpretive stations, permanent parking areas, entrance drive and traffi c circle, traffi c signal at Cicero and 163rd Street, and an above-grade pedestrian crossing over 159th Street. It is recommended to form a partnership committee to jointly pursue funding for future phases, and begin identifying potential funding sources for the future phases immediately.

Funding StrategiesTh ere are a number of local, state, and federal agencies that promote and support many of the strategies and tactics outlined in the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve Master Plan. Th ese agencies off er grants, tax incentives, and other forms of fi nancial incentives for projects such as this to lead the way in implementing and applying sustainable practices. Current programs and funding sources that may be applicable to the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve include the USEPA Section 319 Program, Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Program for Stormwater Management, Open Space Land Acquisition Development Program, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Th e Master Plan includes a variety of diff erent programming opportunities that, in addition to ecological conservation and restoration, include health and wellness, outdoor recreation, cultural heritage, political history, and education. Private foundations and corporate sponsors that focus on these issues could be approached for fi nancial support.


executive summary

phases 1a - 1d

Pulaski Road

Route 57

S. Cicero Avenue

existing dockexisting gazebo

Fieldcrest Park parking lot

Oak Forest

Heath C

enter

upgraded sidew

alk

cemetery

W. 159th S

treet

temporary

parking (12 cars)

temporary

restroom

parking (24 cars)

proposed property easem

ent

farmsted

Route 57

native prairienative w

oodlandnative oak savannacem

etery plantingstorm

water treatm

ent areaw

etlandpond

Legend

major green screening

minor green screening

existing roadprim

ary path (12’ gravel)secondary path (8’ gravel)boardw

alkentrance signage

oak forest heritage preserve master plan & visionForest Preserve District of Cook CountyCook County Real Estate Management Division

executive summary July 2012

oak forest heritage preserve - forest preserves...

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