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Russians in St. Petersburg Clamoring to Hear About Jackson Park

By Sam Cholke | May 15, 2015 6:27am
 Jackson Park's grove of 120 cherry trees is on one of the only places in the city to see the blooms.
Jackson Park's grove of 120 cherry trees is on one of the only places in the city to see the blooms.
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DNAinfo/Sam Cholke

HYDE PARK — Jackson Park is getting international attention — and this time it has nothing to do with the Barack Obama Presidential Library.

The massive $8.1 million restoration effort of the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park will be focus of the World Congress of the International Federation of Landscape Architects on June 7-10 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

“Olmsted is revered worldwide, and this is a huge honor,” said Louise McCurry, president of the Jackson Park Advisory Council.

Patricia M. O'Donnell, the Olmsted expert overseeing the restoration of the park, will travel to Russia to talk about the efforts lead by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Chicago Park District to restore 114 acres of the park.

The news of the international attention came just as the park is preparing for its biggest fundraiser of the year on Sunday.

The Jackson Park Advisory Council will host its annual ice cream social from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive.

“We’ve got [jazz musician] Curtis Black and the South Shore Opera Company coming, it’s super exciting,” McCurry said.

There will be ice cream, a scavenger hunt and a silent raffle that includes free registration at Chicago Park District and Cook County Forest Preserve camps, as well as other items.

There will be talks about the history of the park from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in the park, and the Army Corps of Engineers will explain the current restoration projects in the park.

Organizations including the Brookfield Zoo to Blackstone Bicycle Works will be out to talk up the programs offered for kids throughout the summer.

Tickets are $15 for individuals and $25 for families.

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