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Lily Pool Rehabilitation Project
LILY POOL REHABILITATION PROJECT UPDATE
We are pleased to inform you about the exciting developments surrounding the rehabilitation of the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool in Lincoln Park, a joint project of Lincoln Park Conservancy (LPC) and the Chicago Park District (CPD). In 1995, LPC developed a Lily Pool rehabilitation strategy that built upon previous efforts to make improvements to the landmark. In meetings with senior CPD staff it became clear that a rehabilitated Lily Pool would depend primarily on a successful formation of a public/private partnership between the CPD and the LPC.
BACKGROUND
Alfred Caldwell, a disciple of famed landscape designer Jens Jensen, was a man who can be considered the last Prairie School designer of the twentieth century. Caldwell (1903-1998) worked for Jensen from 1924 to 1931. As a superintendent in his private practice, Caldwell became familiar with Jensen's characteristic design elements: native plants, stratified stonework, sun openings or clearings, and naturalistic waterways. Through Jensen, Caldwell met Frank Lloyd Wright, who also had "a profound impact on the young landscape designer's career." In addition, Jensen's passionate conservation ethic had a lifelong affect on Caldwell.
In 1936, Alfred Caldwell redesigned the Lily Pool, which dated back to 1889, but had fallen into disrepair. In the late 1950's it was designated as the Zoo Rookery. In the early 1960's the CPD conducted a project to renovate the Rookery which added a large amount of stone to shore up the banks of the pond and to prevent further soil erosion in the space.
In May of 2000, the Rookery was officially dedicated as the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. The renaming of this space was an integral step in the movement towards renovating the Lily Pool in a manner consistent with Caldwell's original design. The Lily Pool's status as an important resting site for migrating birds will be protected and balanced while essential improvements are also being made to the space.
THE CURRENT REHABILITATION PLAN
Priorities, developed through focus group consensus and historical research, guided the concept design. Under the direction of the CPD and LPC, landscape architectural consultants, Wolff Clements and Associates, Ltd., prepared design and construction/ bid documents for the project. CPD will be awarding the contract to the most responsive bidder and expects construction for the rehabilitation of the Lily Pool to begin by early November 2000.
The rehabilitation plan addresses these three important components:
1. Accessibility - Modification of existing paths and the reconstruction of an abandoned path to accommodate accessibility and to meet ADA requirements.
2. Habitat - Removal of undesirable trees and the replanting of both trees and understory plants with special attention to selecting plant material that provides food and habitat for migrating birds. There is also a plan to restock fish for wading birds. The fence line will be expanded for bird habitat and additional screening.
An important aspect of the redesign is the removal of hazardous and invasive trees. According to Hendricksen the Care of Trees, the nationally recognized tree experts brought in to evaluate the trees, approximately 125 are hazardous or in such severe decline that they require removal. The other trees slated for removal are primarily small understory invasive species such as buckthorn, box elder, tree of heaven and mulberry. These species have choked out the desirable understory plants. Of these species, only mulberry has any significant habitat value. Accordingly, some mulberry trees will be left as a food source for migratory birds. Several box elders will also be saved to maintain the wooded character and to provide a mature overstory canopy.
Despite the number of planned removals, enough large shade trees will remain that the understory would still be considered a shady environment. The project team - consisting of arborists, Lincoln Park Conservancy, the Chicago Park District and the landscape architectural consultants - plans to meet regularly during tree removal to ensure that trees slated to remain are adequately specified and protected. Where possible, some hollow tree trunks will be removed leaving a stump as suitable habitat for certain wildlife while not jeopardizing public safety.
The rehabilitation also entails installation of 238 shade and ornamental trees, 2,205 perennials, and 1,346 shrubs, including maples, birch, walnut, oak, willow, dogwood, hawthorn and crabapple trees, many of which were planted in Caldwell's original design.
3. Historic Resource - Removal of over 1,000 pieces of stone that were added in the 1960s that are not compatible with Caldwell's original design intent. These stones will be re-used at other CPD facilities. The Plan also calls for rebuilding two pavilions and the Fullerton entry gate. The Plan strives to recreate the spirit of Caldwell's original design while addressing the needs of a modern public park.
We believe that this rehabilitation plan will recreate the Lily Pool as an important asset of Lincoln Park to be enjoyed by thousands of visitors as originally conceived by Alfred Caldwell
Lincoln Park Conservancy ~ 2000 N. Racine, Chicago, IL 60614 ~ 773.883.7275