Gensburg-Markham Prairie
Encyclopedia
The Gensburg-Markham Prairie, also known as Markham Prairie, is a high-quality tallgrass prairie
located in Markham
in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. It is a National Natural Landmark
.
, when postglacial Lake Chicago
deposited a large sand beach in what would later become a section of southern Cook County
. The poorly drained, damp, sandy soil resisted successful farming, and early pioneer settlers left patches of tallgrass prairie grasses and forbs alone.
. However, the prairie patch's relatively poor drainage
made it less attractive to land development. Furthermore, in the years after World War II Markham became an economically troubled and relatively slow-growing community. Finally, in 1971, the Gensburg family, owners of a key 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) parcel at the heart of the prairie, donated the parcel to the Nature Conservancy. The prairie's current name, Gensburg-Markham Prairie, commemorates this donation.
work, begun by Northeastern Illinois University
's Robert Betz, have cleared away some of the brush and allowed much of the original prairie's tallgrass flora to re-establish itself. Controlled burn
s have played a key role in this work.
More than 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of tallgrass prairie within the larger grassland are now classified as high-quality tallgrass prairie. The grassland is owned by the Nature Conservancy and Northeastern Illinois University, which cooperate in its management.
Characteristic tallgrass prairie fauna, such as the Henslow's sparrow
, have been sighted at the prairie.
Curiously, although the Gensburg-Markham Prairie is a National Natural Landmark, it is within hearing distance of two very busy limited-access highways, Interstate 57
and Interstate 294
, which cross each other close to the site of the prairie.
Tallgrass prairie
The tallgrass prairie is an ecosystem native to central North America, with fire as its primary periodic disturbance. In the past, tallgrass prairies covered a large portion of the American Midwest, just east of the Great Plains, and portions of the Canadian Prairies. They flourished in areas with...
located in Markham
Markham, Illinois
Markham is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,620 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Markham is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. It is a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
.
Ecology
The Gensburg-Markham Prairie dates its origins back to the closing years of the Wisconsin glaciationWisconsin glaciation
The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the Pleistocene, from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago....
, when postglacial Lake Chicago
Lake Chicago
This article is about the prehistoric lake, For other geographic features with this name, see ChicagoLake Chicago was a prehistoric proglacial lake that is the ancestor of what is now known as Lake Michigan, one of North America's five Great Lakes....
deposited a large sand beach in what would later become a section of southern Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. The poorly drained, damp, sandy soil resisted successful farming, and early pioneer settlers left patches of tallgrass prairie grasses and forbs alone.
History
Much of the prairie area was annexed by the municipality of Markham, Illinois, a suburb located south of Chicago. In most of greater Chicago, annexations of this type was a precursor to real estate developmentReal estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
. However, the prairie patch's relatively poor drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
made it less attractive to land development. Furthermore, in the years after World War II Markham became an economically troubled and relatively slow-growing community. Finally, in 1971, the Gensburg family, owners of a key 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) parcel at the heart of the prairie, donated the parcel to the Nature Conservancy. The prairie's current name, Gensburg-Markham Prairie, commemorates this donation.
Restoration and today
At the time of donation in 1971, the Gensburg-Markham Prairie had become deeply degraded by invasive exotic plants. Decades of prairie restorationPrairie Restoration
Prairie restoration is an ecologically friendly way to restore some of the prairie land that was lost to industry, farming and commerce. For example, the U.S...
work, begun by Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University is a public state university located in Chicago, Illinois. The main campus is located in the community area of North Park with three additional campuses in the metropolitan area. Tracing its founding to 1867, it was first established as a separate branch of a...
's Robert Betz, have cleared away some of the brush and allowed much of the original prairie's tallgrass flora to re-establish itself. Controlled burn
Controlled burn
Controlled or prescribed burning, also known as hazard reduction burning or Swailing is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for...
s have played a key role in this work.
More than 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of tallgrass prairie within the larger grassland are now classified as high-quality tallgrass prairie. The grassland is owned by the Nature Conservancy and Northeastern Illinois University, which cooperate in its management.
Characteristic tallgrass prairie fauna, such as the Henslow's sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii, is a small American sparrow.Adults have streaked brown upperparts with a light brown breast with streaks, a white belly and a white throat...
, have been sighted at the prairie.
Curiously, although the Gensburg-Markham Prairie is a National Natural Landmark, it is within hearing distance of two very busy limited-access highways, Interstate 57
Interstate 57
Interstate 57 is an Interstate Highway in Missouri and Illinois that parallels the old Illinois Central rail line for much of its route. It goes from Miner, Missouri, at Interstate 55 to Chicago, Illinois, at Interstate 94. I-57 essentially serves as a shortcut route for travelers headed between...
and Interstate 294
Interstate 294
Interstate 294 is a tolled Interstate Highway in northeastern Illinois, U.S.A.. It forms the southern portion of the Tri-State Tollway in Illinois. I-294 runs from South Holland at Interstates 80 and 94, and Illinois Route 394 to Northbrook at I-94. Interstate 294 is long; are shared with I-80....
, which cross each other close to the site of the prairie.