Not for the faint of heart! Join us on this transit hike through the Dunning neighborhood. We'll rely on our feet and the CTA to navigate the Irving Park Road corridor and shift between the veil of the living and the dead. We’ll learn about the tragic history of the Dunning Asylum and visit two locations on the site of its former campus: The Dunning-Read Natural Area and Read Dunning Memorial Park.
Our primary birding spot will be the Dunning-Read Natural Area, which was recently acquired by the Chicago Parks District and labeled Park 601. While in need of TLC, this spot is a hidden gem that includes both prairie and wooded habitat. We’ll try to spot raptors, woodpeckers, kinglets, creepers, sparrows, and of course seasonally appropriate crows as well as the resident coyote. There are no documented checklists for this park for the month of October, so we’ll be paving the way and seeing what other surprises are in store.
We will also take a walk through nearby Mt. Olive Cemetery to honor those Chicagoans that came before us while we look for resident birds and late migrants. Weather permitting, we’ll finish the hike with a picnic at Merrimac Park where we might pick up a chickadee or two.
Note that this is a transit hike and meant to be a green outing, and so we will be traveling to our various points of interest by foot and by bus. You are welcome to travel via bike or scooter but in the spirit of the hike, we ask that you not travel via car between locations. Please bring a CTA pass and comfortable walking shoes, and stay for as much or as little of the hike as you like. The entire hike will likely take around 4 hours.
Leaders: Robyn Detterline
You must RSVP in advance! Pre-registration is required. Please contact Robyn Detterline (rdetterline@gmail.com) or Aerin Tedesco (aerintedesco@gmail.com) at least 24 hours in advance if you cannot attend or with questions.
Accessibility:
This is a hike, so please be prepared walk 5+ miles, depending on how much we utilize the Irving Park Bus. Trail conditions at DRNA are rough, uneven, overgrown, and potentially muddy. The trail at Read Dunning Memorial Park is worn grass. The path through Mt. Olive Cemetery is wide and paved; however, we will often leave the roads to walk through the grass.
There are no bathrooms at any of our points of interest; however, this is in a commercial area and public restrooms may be found at nearby grocery stores and restaurants.
Weather/Attire/Other:
Please wear walking shoes or hiking boots. Depending on the climate leading up to the walk, bugs may be a problem at the natural area, and so bringing bug spray is recommended. Layers are also recommended, so that you can remove them as you warm up during the hike. Please bring a sack lunch if you would like to stay for the picnic.
Location and Transportation:
The exact meeting location will be emailed in advance to registrants. Free street parking is available at the meetup point and it is also accessible by public transit via the CTA Irving Park bus (#80).
Public Health:
Please bring a face mask with you. You may be asked to wear it as needed by the trip leader.