Before European settlement, Beaubien Woods, located on Chicago’s South Side in the Calumet region, was a wet prairie and open savanna. Early agriculture and grazing altered the soil and removed native vegetation. Railroad and expressway construction further damaged soils and cleared areas for use in construction staging. Today the area is the focus of robust restoration efforts and boasts a mix of prairie, woodland and wetland habitats, with Flatfoot Lake as the centerpiece. Join Chicago Studies and ecologist Alison Anastasio (ENST) for a guided trek through this fascinating landscape where the city blends into woodland, and the beauty of restoration can be admired and enjoyed.