HUMBOLDT PARK — After artist Larry Green was diagnosed with kidney failure and started dialysis seven years ago, he turned to Humboldt's namesake park to stay active while he was receiving treatment.
But as he spent more time in the park, he fell in love with the lagoon that dominates much of the landscape.
"I'd go walking to get my strength back and when I saw the lake, I had to get a pole and see if I could catch something," said Green, of Logan Square. "I started with just bluegills and then tweaked my form and started fishing for bass."
Green said people started noticing him and asking questions. So he founded the Humboldt Park Fishing Society.
"I would run into people with the same interests, and I realized I should make a group on Facebook so we can share our knowledge and experience of the park," he said.
The group now has 375 members — and he credits the park and the club with helping save his life — along with a kidney transplant he received two years ago.
The group's mission is to "promote, share and protect the love of fishing" as well as "promote catch-and-release or selective harvest," according to its Facebook page.
Fishing at the lake — which is separate from a swimming area that the park district recently said would not open this year — has gotten so popular that the group hopes to raise $2,000 at an upcoming July 11 fundraiser at the park in order to stock it with as many as 700 large-mouth bass this fall. That's up from the 185 the lake was stocked with when he started.
"Being at the park rejuvenates me," he said. "It's all about the people you meet and how you can get involved in your community."
Originally from Terre Haute, Ind., Green moved to Chicago in 1971 after getting a painting scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He's best known for his photography and paintings of Chicago water tanks, and published a book detailing their history to accompany his artwork called "Waters Tanks of Chicago."
His other work features birds, landscapes and his personal sanctuary, Humboldt Park.
About seven years ago, Green was celebrating his 55th birthday when he passed out and woke up in the hospital three days later. His doctors told him he was experiencing kidney failure and would be on dialysis for the rest of his life, or until he received a transplant.
"On Friday I was sick and I thought I had the flu. By Monday I was fighting for my life," he said. "I thought, this is how the Larry Green saga is gonna end. But no, that didn't happen."
After being told that he would be on the donor waiting list for five to seven years, Green decided to take matters into his own hands.
"I decided, well gee, I think I might put an ad on Craiglsist — I've got nothing to lose," he said. "I wrote a nice little piece that said I was in need and that I had two kids, and I got several messages from people, including the weird ones."
To ensure his safety, and the legitimacy of the donor, Green included that no money would be given to the donor and that they would have to go through his transplant coordinator.
Green eventually heard that a woman had reached out, and she was a match. He had the transplant in 2013.
Green now tries to help others through the fishing group.
"We like to help people out. We try and teach kids how to fish," said Green, who caught a 5-pound bass recently. "It's not like we're a group that can maintain laws or order, but we can suggest to people that we like to protect our environment."
The group has recently connected with the Humboldt Park Advisory Council to help with organizing events and fundraising.
Green — who runs his own interior landscaping company, Green Design — is now 62, but he said he feels like he's 29.
"It's part of my artist lifestyle," Green said. "It's not like I have money or anything, but I'm rich. I've had these 'wow' experiences, and that makes life fulfilled."
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