friends of the parks'
walter netsch lectures
Friends of the Parks hosts a free quarterly interactive series that explores urgent issues affecting parks, the environment, wildlife, urban planning and public policy. These are called the Netsch Lectures in honor of Walter Netsch. We curate speakers including policy experts, community organizers, authors and government officials to share their expertise with time for interactive sharing, questions and discussion.
Our 2023 series is exploring the topic of nature-based solutions to lakeshore erosion
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On March 29, we kicked things off with "A Bird's Eye View of Nature Based Solutions": a screening of the documentary, Monty and Rose 2, followed by a lively panel discussion about the importance of building bridges between people who love birds and Chicagoans who could benefit from nature-based solutions to climate change challenges such as lakeshore erosion.
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For our July 19 lecture, Parks and Beaches as Nature-Based Solutions to Erosion, representatives from the Chicago Department of Transportation's Redefine the Drive team presented on their current modeling for a reimagined North Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive that better withstands the effects of erosion and flooding. They focused on their lakeshore design plans as a key measure for mitigating these impacts.
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UPCOMING: Our November 14 lecture is: "The Shoal and the Shipwreck: Stories from Pebble Beach on Chicago’s South Lakefront." Our distinguished panel of speakers will dive into the compelling geological and social history of Morgan Shoal and Pebble Beach, the section of lakefront between 45th and 51st streets. We will hear the tale of the 1914 shipwreck of the Silver Spray right off the shore, learn about the marine ecosystem that can be found around its remnants and see examples of stone carvings and other forms of art that speak to longstanding human connections to the lake. Learn more and RSVP here.
ABOUT WALTER NETSCH
Walter Netsch served as the President of the Chicago Park District from 1986 through 1989. He was appointed to the Board by Mayor Harold Washington and given the task to reform the Chicago Park District from a political patronage system to a professionally managed agency. Netsch took on the task. He developed a city-wide plan to decentralize the Park District which was implemented in short order. He created a professional Department of Research and Planning and hired creative and accomplished architects and planners which led to better designed fieldhouses and landscapes.
Under his tenure, all 500 children’s playgrounds were reconstructed in five years, 100 playgrounds a year were rebuilt, and each involved the planning and volunteer work of the community. As a world renowned architect, Netsch led the team which designed the original University of Illinois Circle Campus. During his career, Netsch designed 15 libraries, as well as academic buildings for colleges and universities in the United States and Japan, including the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.
He may be most well known as the lead designer for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and its famous Cadet Chapel. The Cadet Chapel at the Academy was named a National Historic Landmark in 2004.
Walter Netsch served as the President of the Chicago Park District from 1986 through 1989. He was appointed to the Board by Mayor Harold Washington and given the task to reform the Chicago Park District from a political patronage system to a professionally managed agency. Netsch took on the task. He developed a city-wide plan to decentralize the Park District which was implemented in short order. He created a professional Department of Research and Planning and hired creative and accomplished architects and planners which led to better designed fieldhouses and landscapes.
Under his tenure, all 500 children’s playgrounds were reconstructed in five years, 100 playgrounds a year were rebuilt, and each involved the planning and volunteer work of the community. As a world renowned architect, Netsch led the team which designed the original University of Illinois Circle Campus. During his career, Netsch designed 15 libraries, as well as academic buildings for colleges and universities in the United States and Japan, including the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.
He may be most well known as the lead designer for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and its famous Cadet Chapel. The Cadet Chapel at the Academy was named a National Historic Landmark in 2004.
