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Wooded Island Reopens Permanently Oct. 22, Steward Says

By Sam Cholke | October 14, 2016 6:26am
 Army Corps of Engineers work in Jackson Park could have required Wooded Island be closed for five years while new plants get established.
Army Corps of Engineers work in Jackson Park could have required Wooded Island be closed for five years while new plants get established.
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DNAinfo/Sam Cholke

HYDE PARK — Wooded Island will reopen to the public on Oct. 22, according to the steward.

The island in Jackson Park has been closed since April of 2015 during an $8.1 million habitat restoration project by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Jerry Levy, steward of Wooded Island, said in an email to volunteers and supporters Thursday the island would reopen “permanently” at 10 a.m. on Oct. 22.

“The gates at both the north and south entrances will be open,” Levy said. “Fences will remain up to protect the new plantings but will not impede access to Wooded Island.”

When work started to remove invasive species from the island and plant natives there were worries the island would be closed for five years. A quirk in the contractor’s work order allowed it keep the island closed that long to protect new plantings.

 Park steward Jerry Levy said the crews were diligent about avoiding the new oak saplings sprouting up on the island.
Park steward Jerry Levy said the crews were diligent about avoiding the new oak saplings sprouting up on the island.
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DNAinfo/Sam Cholke

There has been pressure on the Chicago Park District for some time to reopen the island sooner, particularly since Yoko Ono is poised to unveil her permanent art installation on the island next week.

A representative from the Park District was not immediately available to comment.

The reopening of the island would allow the public access to Yoko Ono’s “Skylanding” sculpture, which is now clearly visible through the fences.

A representative from the nonprofit backing the artwork, Project 120, was not immediately available to comment.

But on Tuesday, the Tribune reported the sculpture of 12-feet-tall lotus petals would be unveiled to the public.

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