My Great Nearby
Shaping the Understanding of Urban Nature
My Great Nearby is a two block area around the Bartlett Quad and holds plenty of nature to experience with veteran eye. In the first few experiences going on walks in nature around my two block area, the initial observation which was made was the lack of natural interaction nearby the human interaction. As the squirrel observation gave me more experienced eyes, looking up into the trees for falling branches or nests has become a common occurrence on my walk.
While I have experienced very minimal interactions of squirrels, I did happen to see a rabbit while on a walk late at night. As my stroll took me past the edges of the botany pond, there was movement in the bushes, which I assumed would be a squirrel. Instead, a rabbit, which seemed to be less bothered by the human traffic, jumped out and ran towards the quad.
In comparison, experiencing rabbits within the more untouched and undeveloped land of West Texas provides a different interaction with a more skittish response.
As such, in observing the Great Nearby, the inherent contrasting of my own perspective has become a common occurrence. Picturing what the land used to be before development or settlement sparks a curiosity for the history of the development and the years of alterations and changes.
The inclination of observation gave way to curiousness about the nature around me. How did this environment become what it is today? What had changed? Why did species decide to settle here? As Pruett-Jones states in “Looking Up”, “I was preoccupied with questions about where these birds came from, where they were going, and who took charge so that they all followed the same flyaway” (Pruett-Jones, 29). Similar to the feeling of Pruett-Jones, observation of the Nearby gives rise to questions previously conceptualized about one's surroundings. One of the photos which lingers in my head during my observational studies is one that was taken 75 years ago from the spot of the Regenstein library looking at Bartlett.
Considering my Great Nearby to be this spot, the photo remains extremely relevant in my ongoing observations of the Bartlett Quad. Being able to see the transition from the early days of the university to what has become of the same quad and the natural interactions within it. Initially, the comparison of the current quad to the photo of the quad in 1946 highlights the difference in tree coverage and foliage present on the quad. Many misconceptions surround the idea that with the passage of time, the world around us becomes less and less natural.
The comparison to years before holding more natural elements tends to fill discourse about the evolution of the urban environment. While it may be tough to argue from a primary source perspective, the comparison of the Bartlett quad from 1975 and today exemplifies a significant difference in the natural coverage and evolution of the natural space.
The northern and southern boundaries of my Great Nearby are 55th street and 57th street, while the eastern and western boundaries are South Kimbark and South Ellis Avenue. The area of my Great Nearby is a large part of the college campus and experiences a high amount of foot traffic. While much of the research about the history of Bartlett Quad came up empty, the history of the land use of Hyde Park is prevalent. According to hydeparkhistory.com, the land was initially developed as a train station for those headed into downtown Chicago. As such, the assumption of Hyde Park beginning as an industrialized area for the sprawling limits of the city of Chicago is strengthened. As movement out of the city in search of larger plots of land for development increased, wealthy families began to find such properties in Hyde Park, building expansive estates throughout the area. Recently, “the areas around central Hyde Park including Woodlawn, North Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park, and Bronzeville have experienced a renaissance of growth and development” (Hyde Park Historical Society).
As the university expands in the Hyde Park area, the increase of development returns an increase in planned environmental spaces. While the initial feeling towards such a type of outdoors space has generally been negative considering the inability to allow biodiversity.
Human interaction is the focus of the development of the Bartlett Quad and surrounding areas. As such, the elements of the land have been historically chosen to emphasize human comfort over the environmental ethicacy and diversity. The species that have been chosen around campus and implemented into the urban and environmental architecture tend to have a focus on the durability over the environmental benefit. One process of the university which emphasizes the importance of human interaction with the great nearby is the constant manicuring of the surrounding natural features. Contrasting the photos of Bartlett from 75 years ago and the image today, the evident manmade shaping of the natural elements is the most obvious feature. The landscaping of my great neighborhood has an evident effect on the species interactions, including human, plant, and animal.
As Leopold discusses in Land Ethic, “lack of economic value is sometimes a character not only of species or groups, but of entire biotic communities” (Leopold, 212). Biotic communities are not necessarily determined by their sole economic value, but can be valued by the aesthetic value as well. In the consideration of the location for the great nearby, the historical aesthetic value of the land is of more pressing importance to human interaction than the economic or biodiverse value. Arguably, biodiversity or economic value may not be the more pressing character traits of specific land. Finding the balance between the diversity of the natural space and the impact on the species interacting with it is the most important idea for the Bartlett Quad, especially when considering the foot traffic and historical significance of the space.
The shift of urban landscapes from the booming metropolis to a sustainable biodiverse community is becoming evident across developed countries in the world. With the detrimental effects of a current capitalist lifestyle remaining painstakingly obvious, the movement towards a more inclusive and diverse landscape has shifted from a dream to a reality. The University of Chicago campus is the student body’s great nearby and must be treated as such. It is on the student body and faculty to find a balance of biodiversity and natural aesthetic to equally benefit the urban ecology, as well as the human interaction. With more accountability and responsibility of students nearby, the possibility of an increase in natural interaction may significantly benefit the long term goals of the space.
With such nearby beauty, the Great Nearby provides unique urban ecosystem services for the everyday interaction. Increasing the observation of the Bartlett Quad and my great nearby has created a new sensation of accountability for the urban ecology around me, exemplifying many beneficial portions of the interaction between humans and their natural surroundings. More responsibility for for the actions on urban and environmental development may provide a greater sense of belonging to our Great Nearby and may increase our compassion for our surroundings. A balance between urban and rural lifestyles is necessary for a future of sustainability. Appreciating our Great Nearby for the natural beauty and ecosystem services it provides is a first step in the right direction.
My Tree
When thinking about my tree and the location, the continuous observation pushes me to consider the history of the tree or what the tree would have seen if it had eyes. Questioning the dates the tree was planted, how the surroundings have changed, the ecosystem it has held within for so many years, or the evolution of those dependent upon it brings into thought a broader category than visual observation.
The tree is a Northern Red Oak, which seems fairly mature and healthy based on the trunk density and bark structure. According to The Morton Arboretum, “This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm Plants of the Chicago Region,” which explains the success of the planting across the campus. I believe my identification is accurate of the northern red oaks across campus based on the leaves and the current color state of the respective branches. In addition, the Arboretum site describes the tree as a host to wildlife, especially small game.
While the tree seemed to be planted individually, sources provide evidence of the tree's commonality in the city, considering its success in this climate. The harsh climate and shift of seasons weigh heavily in determining which species would survive over the long-term, which gives Chicago a relatively niche spread of trees across the city. I can confidently make the assumption that the tree was planted by the University.
I do not know if it is a natural occurrence or if there is an outside impact on the tree causing such a change, but the eggs of the gypsy moth will be a main priority, as they are extremely detrimental to the health of a red oak. The tree is seemingly typical of the species and descriptions found through academic research with a few individualistic details on the trunk.
Over the course of the quarter, observation became a part of my everyday life. Using a focal point to experience the changes of an ecosystem, my eyes shifted from amateur to veteran.
Having the ability to think more observationally and deduce the possibilities of a certain situation given the viewable context clues goes beyond just viewing squirrels or my focal tree, but creates a valuable visual tool for assessing different experiences across life.
My Great Nearby has changed in my eyes for the better. There is beauty where than once was ignorance.
Thank you!
Bibliography
Aldo, Leopold. Land Ethic. (1949). Accessed October 28, 2021.
Pruett-Jones, Melinda. Looking Up. (2015). Accessed October 29, 2021.
Hyde Park Historical Society. (2021, March 22). Accessed October 31, 2021. https://hydeparkhistory.org/2015/04/30/the-history-of-hyde-park/
Northern Red Oak. The Morton Arboretum. (2021, May 13). Accessed October 13, 2021. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/northern-red-oak/#.
Northern Red Oakquercus rubra. Northern Red Oak Tree on the Tree Guide at arborday.org. (n.d.). Accessed October 13, 2021. https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeGuide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=877.
Economic Botany & Cultural history: Northern red oak. Economic Botany & Cultural History: Northern red oak | Urban Forest Initiative. (n.d.). Accessed October 14, 2021. https://ufi.ca.uky.edu/treetalk/ecobot-red-oak.
Northern Red Oak (everything you need to know): Tree guides. Local Tree Estimates. (2021, March 22). Accessed October 13, 2021. https://localtreeestimates.com/northern-red-oak/.
The University of Chicago Facilities Services. UChicago Natural History | The University of Chicago Facilities Services. (n.d.). Accessed December 7, 2021. https://facilities.uchicago.edu/botanic_garden/uchicago_natural_history/.
