Morton Grove Park District Activity Guide
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National Park 9325 Marion Avenue Baseball and Softball Field, Basketball Court, Facility Rentals, Playground Eqp, Sand Volleyball, Tennis and .30 Walking Path. Oketo Park 8950 Oketo Avenue Baseball Field, Basketball Court, Facility Rentals, Fieldhouse, and Playground Eqp. Oriole Park 9201 Oriole Avenue Basketball Courts, Concessions, Facility Rentals, Playground Eqp., Sand Volleyball, Swimming Pool, and Tennis Court. 8 9 7 MGPD PARK AMENITIES SEE PG 52-53 FOR PARKS MAP 14 13 Prairie View Park 6834 Dempster Street Administration Building, Baseball Fields, Basketball Courts, Club Fitness, Facility Rentals, Gymnasium, Playground Eqp., Veteran's Memorial, Prairie Nature Preserve, Racquetball Courts, Sand Volleyball,Sauna, Tennis Courts, and .52 Walking Path. Shermer Park 9500 Shermer Avenue Basketball Court and Playground Eqp. Arnum Park 7035 Church Street Playground Eqp. Austin Park 8336 Marmora Avenue Baseball and Softball Field, Basketball Court, Facility Rentals, Playground Eqp,Sand Volleyball, and .26 Walking Path. Frank Hren Park 9500 Oak Park Avenue Fieldhouse/Shelter, Playground Eqp.,Prairie Nature Preserve, Soccer Field and .4 Walking Path. 1 2 3 Harrer Park 6250 Dempster Street Baseball and Softball Fields, Basketball Court,Concessions, Facility Rentals,Shelter, Maintenance Building, Museum, Playground Eqp, Swimming Pool, Tennis, and .53 Walking Path. Jacobs Park 9226 Natchez Avenue Basketball Court and Playground Eqp. Mansfi eld Park 5830 Church Street Baseball Fields, Basketball Court, Facility Rentals,Fieldhouse, and Playground Eqp. 4 5 6 10 11 12 Overhill Park 9345 Overhill Avenue Playground Equipment Palma Lane Park 9509 Nashville Lane Baseball Field, Basketball Court and Playground Equipment Pioneer Park 8617 Georgiana Avenue Playground Eqp. A Dedicated Prairie BRIEF HISTORY The Prairie Nature Preserve was offi cially dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve in October, 1979. By being a dedicated Nature Preserve, this land is protected by law. With proper care, the preserve will remain in its present natural state. The preserve is signifi cant as a rare natural area located in a high density metropolitan area with little remaining open space. Endless educational opportunities are provided by the Prairie Nature Preserve to those who might otherwise never experience or know the benefi ts of a prairie community. The entire prairie area is encircled with an asphalt path to provide easy viewing by visitors and on the east side is an observation deck with an interpretive sign. We invite you to come out and discover one of the natural wonders of Morton Grove. Prairie Nature Preserve The Morton Grove Prairie Nature Preserve is a remnant of the tall-grass prairie that originally stretched from Eastern Nebraska into Northern Indiana. Of special interest to ecologists and naturalists, the prairie is of the black soil mesic type. Thus it is unusually rich with a wide variety of lush vegetation. Few surviving grasslands are of this type. Today's Prairie The present small prairie is located on land, which by the start of the Civil War, belonged to the G. Gabel Farm. From the botanic evidence and the Gabel family tradition, the piece of land north of Churchhill Street and midway between Waukegan Road and Oak Park Avenue has never been plowed because it was too wet. Ice was cut in the winter from the site. Prairie Plants Prairie plants include grasses and forbs (wild fl owers) with trees and shrubs being present only as scattered individual or clumps. The most important grasses on the Morton Grove Prairie are switch grass, cord grass, prairie dropseed, porcupine grass, Indian grass and big and little bluestem. Also grass-like sedges mass to form a small meadow. Over 100 species of plants not found anywhere except on a prairie are found at the Prairie Nature Preserve. MANAGEMENT The land is owned by the Morton Grove Park District. The park district has a cooperative with the North Branch Restoration Project in cooperation with the Volunteer Stewardship Network of the Nature Conservancy in Illinois. For more info visit mortongroveparks.com/pnp GET OUT & ENJOY MGPD parks THIS SEASON PRAIRIE NATURE PRESERVE register at mortongroveparks.com | 2021 Summer Activity Guide 49