“Morgan Shoal is a 300-million-year-old limestone structure presumably formed by the glaciers that formed the lake, and it is the closest near shore shoal on Chicago's shoreline; utterly unique,” said Greg. “This is one of the seven wonders of Chicago, between the shipwreck and the shoal and Pebble Beach. It’s a great place to take kids. It’s beautiful. It is one of the best places to swim in the city. I encourage everyone to come out.”
Greg’s wife Mary first got him into swimming. She doesn't swim year-round as her husband does, but she too loves to swim above the shoal.
“The shoals are limestone and they grow this beautiful, wavy green grass. So, as you’re swimming above it, it’s this undulating green carpet filled with little fish darting in and out,” said Mary. “It feels completely tropical, and so just like when you're snorkeling in a tropical area, I can swim literally for miles and just lose myself. It's really beautiful.”
Image credit: Dan Peterman
The Chicago Park District has proposed plans to extend park land by building out over the shoal. The prospect horrifies Greg who has a very different idea for the area's future.
“To create a sanctuary for swimming, for any kind of non-motorized recreation, for the ecology out here, for the migrating birds, that goes out half a mile, which is the length of the shoal and south on the lake shore,” said Greg, “I'd love to see this area featured, and enjoyed by Chicagoans and by visitors to Chicago.”
July 2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of the loss of the Silver Spray. Greg Lane says that’s the perfect date to open Chicago's first underwater sanctuary.
Lane has approached the Field Museum with his idea for an underwater sanctuary. He also hopes to enlist support from the Chicago Park District, the University of Chicago and other conservation and environmental groups.
The above excerpt, is from "WTTW" for more info on the symposium, click the link below;
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/sites/default/files/Great%20Lakes%20Urban%20Habitat%20Symposium_Morgan%20Shoal%20Project.pdf
Greg’s wife Mary first got him into swimming. She doesn't swim year-round as her husband does, but she too loves to swim above the shoal.
“The shoals are limestone and they grow this beautiful, wavy green grass. So, as you’re swimming above it, it’s this undulating green carpet filled with little fish darting in and out,” said Mary. “It feels completely tropical, and so just like when you're snorkeling in a tropical area, I can swim literally for miles and just lose myself. It's really beautiful.”
Image credit: Dan Peterman
The Chicago Park District has proposed plans to extend park land by building out over the shoal. The prospect horrifies Greg who has a very different idea for the area's future.
“To create a sanctuary for swimming, for any kind of non-motorized recreation, for the ecology out here, for the migrating birds, that goes out half a mile, which is the length of the shoal and south on the lake shore,” said Greg, “I'd love to see this area featured, and enjoyed by Chicagoans and by visitors to Chicago.”
July 2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of the loss of the Silver Spray. Greg Lane says that’s the perfect date to open Chicago's first underwater sanctuary.
Lane has approached the Field Museum with his idea for an underwater sanctuary. He also hopes to enlist support from the Chicago Park District, the University of Chicago and other conservation and environmental groups.
The above excerpt, is from "WTTW" for more info on the symposium, click the link below;
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/sites/default/files/Great%20Lakes%20Urban%20Habitat%20Symposium_Morgan%20Shoal%20Project.pdf
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