Advisory Council Announces Survey Results

Indian Boundary's historic lagoon (August 28, 2014)

More than six out of 10 users of Indian Boundary Park would like to see an increased number of musical concerts, plays and similar cultural events, a newly released survey finds. 

The same number would like to see the park host programs based around animals, such as bird walks and visits from farm animals and more exotic species such as raptors and reptiles brought in by organizations such as the Audubon Society. 

Those are two key findings from an online survey of Indian Boundary Park patrons conducted in July and August, the Indian Boundary Park Advisory Council announced August 28, 2014. The survey, conducted online by the park's advisory council, collected a hefty 233 responses.

Attracting the approval of more than half the respondents was a call to see seasonal festivals presented at the park, such as the harvest festival from fall 2013, with its pony rides, inflatable bounce house, face painting and games.

Half the respondents also endorsed more commercial feature-length movies in the park.

After those programs, however, demand from park users fell dramatically, with only about one-third of respondents favoring Wi-Fi capability in the park, a concession stand selling refreshments, and more benches for seating.

Fewer than one in five favored more playground equipment. 

Not surprisingly, the park’s two main attractions, cited by more than eight of 10 respondents, were the park’s gardens, flowers, trees, shrubs and other landscaping, and the park’s lagoon.

The new Nature Play Center, with its popular play cottages, wasn't included in the survey because the facility wasn't open when the survey was taken. 

However, judging from the attendance in the Nature Play Center since its opening August 7, the re-imagined former zoo area is at least as popular with park users at the playground, which half the respondents cited as a key attraction. 

The former spray pool, with its decidedly low-tech pipe spraying water, was used by only four of 10 visitors -- a number sure to soar with the debut of the new spray pool with dancing bear fountains and three misting poles. 

The city-landmarked fieldhouse (also called the Cultural Center) also won the patronage  of half those responding --  a user rate that may reflect the facility houses the only restroom facility in the park. (A restroom is available in the Nature Play Center, but only during  the hours when the center itself is open.)

Dog-walking, picnicking and the tennis courts were popular with about one in five visitors.

Advisory Council President Jane Pranga said, “These survey results reaffirm General Superintendent Mike Kelly’s declaration that Indian Boundary ‘may be second to none, the nicest park of all 600 in the Chicago Park District’ as he did when the Nature Center opened.”

Four out of 10 visit the park one or more times a week, and their favorite time to  visit is in the afternoon. But another three visit multiple times during the day, according to survey results. 

More than half of the visitors stay for 30 to 60 minutes, but a considerable 30 percent stay in the park for one to two hours. 

If you’d like to see the full results of the survey, write to the Advisory Council and put “Survey Results” in the comments section.