Located at 109th & Laramie Ave, this park serves as one of Oak Lawn’s largest and most popular parks. The Wolfe Wildlife Refuge is a natural wetlands area where several animals and birds, including some endangered and threatened species, call home.
While strolling along the paved walking/biking path and watching from the wooden deck, nature photographers and birth enthusiasts have spotted more than 100 species of birds in the refuge, including the Black-Crowned Night Heron, Double-Crested Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon, and the Great White Egret. Animals found in the refuge include frogs, turtles, raccoons, foxes, insects, and Monarch Butterflies. This park is a natural area for nature programs, which are offered year-round and is home to the annual Howl-O-Ween event.
The shelter area is perfect to rent for your next family gathering. The playground area features a custom “Tree-Themed” play structure modeled to look like a tree trunk and has four strap swings, two tot swings, a tire swing, all which are fully inclusive.
Wolfe Wildlife will be undergoing a two-phase renovation over the course of the next year. Phase I of the project is partially funded thanks to a successful Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant worth $600,000. The project includes six new pickleball courts, exercise equipment, game tables, along with path and light pole replacements. The portion of the rejuvenation project that begins this year includes the following:
- Bridge Decking Replacement
- Six (6) New Pickleball Courts (at Little Wolfe)
- Game Tables
- Split Rail Fence Replacement
- Exercise Equipment Installation
- Overlook Replacement
- Trail Sitting Location
- Nature Restoration
- Select Path & Light Pole Replacement
Phase II of the project will start next summer and includes replacing the remaining path and light poles. This part of the project is being funded thanks to another successful grant application from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) as part of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) worth $1.67 million.
Features
- 45 Acres
- ADA Accessible
- Playground
- Pond
- Seasonal Public Restrooms
- Walking Path
