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Take A Free Guided Tour Of the Dunning-Read Conservation Area On Saturday

By Alex Nitkin | May 4, 2017 5:50am | Updated on May 5, 2017 11:31am
 A family of coyotes lives in the 23-acre Dunning-Read conservation area, according to Dunning neighborhood Organization president
A family of coyotes lives in the 23-acre Dunning-Read conservation area, according to Dunning neighborhood Organization president
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Cook County Forest Preserve

CHICAGO — One of more than 20 free guided tours planned all over the city this weekend will be held at the city's only remaining natural wetland, as the Dunning-Read Conservation Area gets its first-ever Jane's Walk on Saturday.

Named for the late urbanist author Jane Jacobs, the program has inspired residents of cities all around the world to "get together to explore, talk about and celebrate their neighborhoods," according to its website. The first Jane's Walk came to Chicago in 2013 as a partnership with the group Friends of Downtown.

Saturday's Dunning-Read tour will be led by Dunning Neighborhood Organization president and self-described "bird nerd" Kathe Serritelli, who will point out migrating hawks and sparrows along with the diverse array of other wildlife in the 23-acre area.

"It's a lot of nature for a place that's in the city, and it's just very peaceful," Serritelli said. "And maybe, if we're lucky, we can spot the coyote family that lives there."

She'll also give a history lesson on the area's past lives as the Cook County Insane Asylum and state poor farm, some of whose residents are still buried on the property.

The tour will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the entrance to the conservation area, 4200 N. Oak Park Ave. It's scheduled to last about 1½ hours.

The event is free, but attendees are asked to RSVP online.