West Ridge Nature Park — Attraction in Lake View Township

I really enjoy coming here! A tranquil, beautiful oasis filled with nature, in the middle if a very busy urban neighborhood. The walking trails are easy to follow and you can choose to follow the path around the pond or the path that leads more deeply into the woods. There are spectacular views of wildlife like the families of geese and ducks. The various types of birds there is great to see. There are turtles sunbathing on the fallen logs in the pond. I saw a crane the last time I was there! There is at least one deer living here that I have been watching grow from a fawn last year. There is a hawk that makes an appearance every now and then. The sights and sounds really lit you in tune with nature and you are almost able to forget that you are still in the city at least for a little while. The natural shrubs, plants and wildflowers are just beautiful in the spring and summer. There are places to sit and observe or you can try your hand at fishing for the many giant koi in the pond. They have built a nice play area for kids to come and explore and play and learn to appreciate nature on a smaller scale to become acquainted with it. If you can get here, go! You...

What a hidden gem! The park is lush and full of vegetation. It is well-maintained with plenty of seating areas. We saw more animals here than Starved Rock and other state parks. We saw turtles, chipmunks, woodpeckers, hawks (hunting!), chickadees, and a yellow-bellied flycatcher (which was trapped in a tree guard but escaped). It's just small enough for a one-hour walk if you explore the many trails. I can't believe this place exists next to one of the busiest streets in Chicago. If you need a place to escape from the madness, come here. It's peaceful and beautiful.

People complaining about the no-dogs rule: This place is a nature reserve with delicate wildlife. There are ground-nesting animals. Pet waste adds excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the environment and creates an easy habitat for invasive plants to grow, among many other consequences. There are irresponsible dog owners who do not pick up pet waste....

This location is absolutely stunning. We had no idea it was even there. It's definitely a hidden gem in the city. All along we thought it was part of the cemetery but we were wrong, it was a beautiful hidden nature reserve. It's awesome for walks, runs, bird watching, photography, the kids. It also has a little lake and a saw lots of people fishing. They also have a kid area where they can play and explore and get dirty. It's small, perfect, and did I mention free. While we were there we saw lots of animals too. We saw deer, different kinds of birds, chipmunks, a huge falcon, squirrels. I can only imagine how stunning it looks there in the fall so I can't wait to be back. Also right across the street from there is VPT Grill that has awesome food so make a...