Turf-eating grubs have returned to Welles Park and other Chicago parks, stripping fields and forcing reseeding and temporary closures ahead of the spring season.

Starved Rock is getting an $18 million trail overhaul. Some canyons and staircases will be closed intermittently while the lodge and visitor services stay open.

Lurie Garden will close March 2 through early July for repairs to its wooden boardwalk and water feature. Managers say the work is a preservation project focused on safety.

A volunteer rescued a snowy owl along I‑88 near DeKalb and vets at DuPage performed emergency surgery; the bird is recovering but prognosis remains uncertain.

The Chicago Park District rolled out a 20-year framework for Grant Park that pairs Paris-style movable chairs and more restrooms with megaproject ideas to reconnect the lakefront.

A $1.2M overhaul of Antioch’s Centennial Park — including replacing the 1992 wooden playground — has prompted a petition with more than 3,800 signatures.

Years of neighborhood organizing paid off this month as John H. Kelly Park in Lakeview broke ground on a long‑planned renovation. The overhaul is funded by state grants, a Cubs contribution and local donors.

Chicago’s Illinois Medical District broke ground on a one‑acre park at 2023 W. Ogden that will feature playgrounds, fitness zones and a 25‑foot COVID‑19 memorial.

Snowy owls attract crowds in Chicago after being spotted at Montrose Beach, with birdwatchers and locals intrigued by their unusual visitation patterns.

Lincoln Park Zoo added two brown bears for the first time since 1979 and announced an African penguin chick hatched Oct. 1, a small but meaningful win for conservation in Chicago.

The Park District says the 1912 Burnham Building will be restored with federal support; work could start next spring pending environmental review.

A 4,270-year-old human skull fragment was found near the Whitewater River in Indiana, dating back to circa 2300 B.C. and undergoing respectful repatriation and site management.

Lincoln Park Zoo celebrates World Rhino Day, announcing the pregnancy of Kapuki, a 20-year-old eastern black rhinoceros, with the birth expected in early spring 2026. This is part of conservation efforts for the critically endangered species.