Hidden Landscape Gems Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

by Heather Prince

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, Chicago Entry: free. Open seasonally from mid-April through midNovember. Check lincolnparkconservancy.org for current opening information

Step away from the hustle and bustle of Lincoln Park and go back in time to a serene Midwestern river meandering between stacked limestone filled with water lilies and echoing with birds. The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool beckons you to stroll the meandering stone paths, linger in the Prairie Style pavilion and have a spirited debate in the council circle. Explore the sweeps of native wildflowers. Look for legions of dragonflies and slow down to soak in the peace where a prairie river meets the woodland.

Originally installed in 1889 as a Victorian heated pool for the cultivation and display of tropical water lilies, by the 1930s, the nearly three-acre site had fallen into ruin. Landscape architect Alfred Caldwell was tasked with redesigning the site, completing the work in 1938. “Caldwell’s vision was that of a meandering stream where one never quite sees the end. Limestone outcroppings are inspired by Illinois and other Midwestern landscapes where the immense force of glaciation’s impacts are seen in outcroppings and moraines,” commented Doug Widener, Executive Director, Lincoln Park Conservancy. At the south end of the site, “The council ring is another key feature of Caldwell that mimics native traditions where all participants are equally engaged around a central presentation space.”

It is regarded as one of the best, most complete examples of Caldwell’s design aesthetic. Designed to be a refuge from the city, it is clearly influenced by his mentors Jens Jensen and Frank Lloyd Wright with the sinuous limestone outcroppings.

Caldwell’s designs also called for groupings of crabapple, sumac, serviceberry, and hawthorn underplanted with shrubs, native roses, and woodland perennials. Caldwell stressed the use of native plants and trees, spending his own money to purchase the needed plants as completion neared and budgets ran short. When opened, the public greeted this new oasis with enthusiasm and migrating birds soon called it an important stopover point. However, its popularity with humans exacted a price. By the 1950s, the pool had been transformed into the Rookery, an exhibit of exotic birds hosted by Lincoln Park Zoo. Between a lack of management, damage by the birds, and heavy human foot traffic, the site degraded and faded. A new initiative in the 1990s formed to rescue the Lily Pool from neglect. After significant volunteer and community input, a thorough study of Caldwell’s plans and thoughtful public engagement, the Lily Pool was restored at a cost of $2.4 million by the Lincoln Park Conservancy and Chicago Park District in 2001. Invasive plants were cleared, the pool carefully dredged, and the utmost care taken to replace and repair the stonework. The restoration earned the Lily Pool National Historic Landmark and Chicago Historical Landmark status. Today, Caldwell’s vision of a “cool, refreshing, clear place” has been realized and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool restored to its status as a beloved refuge in the heart of the city.