Hidden Landscape Gems

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens

7402 Lake Katherine Drive Palos Heights, IL

lakekatherine.org

by Heather Prince Located along the Cal-Sag canal and tucked behind office buildings, homes, and apartments, Lake Katherine is a charming 85 acre nature preserve that welcomes the community, hosts events, and provides a piece of serenity in the southern suburbs. Officially organized in 2005, this former gun club is now part of the Cal-Sag Bike Trail and features a winding lake plus about 21 garden spaces.

There’s something for everyone at Lake Katherine. Kayaks and canoes can be rented for a quiet paddle among the water lilies. A prairie beckons with native flowers and grasses as it buzzes with pollinators. A fenced heritage vegetable garden is maintained as an organic vegetable demonstration area and crops are donated to the local food pantry. The waterfall spilling down around the clubhouse beckons children and provides a good example of a naturalistic stream tumbling over boulders and outcropping. The herb garden is planted in a formal style with rectangular planting areas, containers, and raised beds. The Loretta Kupchick Woodland Wildflower Garden is filled with ephemeral woodland native plants. A tucked away trail leads to a lookout over the Cal-Sag canal where you can watch barge traffic. Bring binoculars to look for all sorts of water birds. Herons stalk the lake and songbirds flit overhead.

You’ll find residents walking the mile loop trail around the small lake with their dogs and families or packing a picnic to enjoy under one of the many trees that make up the arboretum along the south edge of the lake. The nature center offers hands-on learning opportunities with close encounters with live animals and a full calendar of events and programs. There are many garden spaces especially for children, particularly the Children’s Forest at the west end of the lake. Here kids can try nature play, check out a barefoot path, and discover the wonders of a wetland. The nature play areas allow children to climb, build, and get a bit dirty while they explore.

Lake Katherine is an interesting example of reclaiming a space that had fallen into neglect and crafting a community nature experience. Their mission is to connect people with nature “by engaging the public and applying current stewardship practices to this reclaimed land, we strive to create a place that invites human interaction with natural spaces through learning about nature, expanding knowledge of good ecological practices, and welcoming recreation and reflection.” You can explore their full master site plan on the website and get a sense of the future direction of this special place. It also allows you to examine the challenges of building and maintaining a natural area in the middle of a built suburb. Lake Katherine also offers ecological consulting services and guidance to creating your own conservation areas. When you visit, take the time to explore all the nooks and crannies of this unexpected respite.