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Unlike a few of the other big urban cities, Chicago doesn't have a big urban natural reserve. The city lacks much in the way of topography. There are no stream valleys or hilly steep slopes that precluded development and encourage natural conservation. The city had many natural marshes at one time. As with pretty much every city those were seen as disease ridden swamps and filled in.
However, it of course has miles of parks along Lake Michigan. Most are pretty manicured, but the access to the waterfront is unrivaled among great lakes cities.
The city is also opening up more public space along the rivers. Most aren't natural areas. But the city is cleaning up the river and creating more recreational access points. The city also has dedicated (admittedly smallish) natural areas spread across its park system. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/natural-areas
Unlike a few of the other big urban cities, Chicago doesn't have a big urban natural reserve. The city lacks much in the way of topography. There are no stream valleys or hilly steep slopes that precluded development and encourage natural conservation. The city had many natural marshes at one time. As with pretty much every city those were seen as disease ridden swamps and filled in.
However, it of course has miles of parks along Lake Michigan. Most are pretty manicured, but the access to the waterfront is unrivaled among great lakes cities.
The city is also opening up more public space along the rivers. Most aren't natural areas. But the city is cleaning up the river and creating more recreational access points. The city also has dedicated (admittedly smallish) natural areas spread across its park system. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/natural-areas
Don't overlook Lake Michigan itself - a large natural open space that is publicly accessible, drawing boaters and fishermen.
Just a step away from touching the urbanized area, but still within the metro include examples like Tannehill State Park (1500 acres), Rickwood Caverns State Park (380 acres), and Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (3690 acres). I want to give Horse Pens 40 a shoutout, since although it's a bit further out, it's still in the metro and can get missed since it's not publicly owned (though still open to the public).
Talladega National Forest is technically in part of the metro, but the majority of the 392,600 acres aren't. So it feels weird to mention it.
Can you tell me if the Oak Mtn. State Park acreage is before or since the massive addition just made this year that almost doubles the acreage?
Which cities have the best natural areas (forests, grasslands, gorges, hills/mountains, bluffs, marshes, beaches, etc)? By natural areas, I mean natural open space that is publicly accessible? So not manicured parks or privately owned properties that are off limits to the general public.
Birmingham. Not only does it have two huge public parks for hiking within its city limits, but it also has a huge stage park twenty minutes' south of town, several others within an hour, two national forests within an hours' drive, a enormous number of lakes within ninety minutes, etc.
Just a step away from touching the urbanized area, but still within the metro include examples like Tannehill State Park (1500 acres), Rickwood Caverns State Park (380 acres), and Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (3690 acres). I want to give Horse Pens 40 a shoutout, since although it's a bit further out, it's still in the metro and can get missed since it's not publicly owned (though still open to the public).
Talladega National Forest is technically in part of the metro, but the majority of the 392,600 acres aren't. So it feels weird to mention it.
Small Cities:
Springfield, MO
Fayetteville, AR
Huntington, WV
Charleston, WV
Johnson City, TN
Asheville, NC
Large Cities:
Pittsburgh, PA
Knoxville, TN
Little Rock, AR
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