The West Ridge Nature Preserve<\/a> unveiled their new children’s play space.<\/p>\n

Festivities included live music, fun with dirt and sticks, as well as roasting marshmallows in a fire pit.<\/p>\n

When visiting you can watch the ducks, geese, seagulls and other waterfowl cavort in the pond, look for owls in the trees and hawks circling in the sky overhead.<\/p>\n

Walk quietly and you will very likely spot a few deer hiding in the trees and shrubs.<\/p>\n

Depending on the time of day and time of year you can hear frogs croaking and all manner of birds.<\/p>\n

The new children’s play space has several kid-sized tables and tree stump chairs ideal for doing crafts or inspecting small stones or bugs found nearby. There’s a Native American inspired twig shelter and plenty of logs and large rocks to climb on.<\/p>\n

This new nature area at Ardmore and Western is one of Chicago’s small treasures and a perfect place for the whole family to take a leisurely stroll.<\/p>\n

The path is paved and therefore handicapped accessible but please walk your bike or park it at the entrance.<\/p>\n