Popular on Patch: A History of Tobogganing in Bemis Woods

As early as the 1930s, area residents were enjoying their winters on toboggans in nearby Bemis Woods. But, that all changed in 2007.

A History of Tobogganing in Bemis Woods

As early as the 1930s, area residents were enjoying their winters on toboggans in nearby Bemis Woods. But, that all changed in 2007.

In the 1930’s, the federal government established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This was an effort to put unemployed young men to work, usually doing public works projects in parks, on highways, and in forest preserves. One such CCC camp was located in the Bemis Woods, directly north of Ogden & Howard Avenues. The 200 young men assigned to the camp devoted most of their time to planting trees, building bridle paths (now used for bikes), and constructing small bridges, dams, and shelter houses. But, they also found time to build a wonderful toboggan slide in the Bemis Woods, a little northwest of Ogden & Woodland Avenues.  See second photo. The slide facilities were improved somewhat over the years. They eventually consisted of a …

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Ice Man

9:57 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013

I have good memories going to Bemis as child. I also recall having an aching backside after several runs down the chute, but which ended the next year because my mother made a pad for the toboggan. It is shame they had to close it down. I feel bad for the children today who can not experience the fun the we had there.   more ›

Accidents, Citations at New Ogden Crosswalk a Concern

A cyclist was injured in an accident in the crossing on Sunday evening; Village says it plans to release a safety video on YouTube.

A 53-year-old bicyclist suffered mild injuries in an accident at the Ogden Avenue crosswalk from Woodland Avenue to Bemis Woods on Sunday evening, the Doings Western Springs reports, the second accident to occur at the crossing since May. (The first was a rear-end collision while a pedestrian was using the crossing, before the new flashing lights were live.) Western Springs police told the newspaper there have been 11 citations and warnings so far in 2012 at the crosswalk for vehicles not yielding to pedestrians. The report also notes that the Village is using a Hinsdale-based filmmaker to produce a safety training video about the crosswalk that will appear on YouTube. After months of wrangling with IDOT, Cook County and the Forest …

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So, About that Ogden Crosswalk...

Who is really responsible for the safety of pedestrians trying to cross the street to Bemis Woods? It's all of us.

Ogden Avenue Crosswalk Signals Are Live: What to Know

The improved system for crossing Ogden Avenue to Bemis Woods is finally complete and open to public use; here’s what pedestrians, bikers and motorists should be aware of.

After years of public plea and various efforts, the crosswalk from the Village of Western Springs near Woodland Avenue across Ogden Avenue to Bemis Woods has been updated with additional signage and activated flashing lights to stop vehicles so that pedestrians and bikers can safely cross the four lanes of traffic. The keystone of the new system is a set of “rectangular rapid-flashing beacons,” or RRFBs, small slit-like high-intensity LEDs that flash back and forth to get attention. A cyclist or pedestrian intending to cross Ogden in either direction presses a button to activate the lights, for which motorists are required by law to stop. Users of the crosswalk are emphatically warned to wait until all traffic has stopped in front of the …

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Rescue Guinea Pigs Showcased at Bemis ‘Pignic’

Cavy enthusiasts brought their fuzzy friends, mostly shelter animals, to the grove just north of Western Springs for an afternoon of guinea-pig celebration and promotion.

Guinea pigs. Guinea-pig toys, accessories and books. Guinea-pig Olympics, complete with parsley-eating competition and races. Guinea pigs socializing with other guinea pigs. And dozens of adoptable guinea pigs looking for a good home. This was the scene at the Critter Corral’s annual spring “Pignic,” a mini-festival of all things Cavia porcellus, this year hosted in the Bemis Woods grove just north of Western Springs, with a focus on placing rescue guinea pigs with new, loving homes. And plenty of guinea pigs badly need such homes, said event organizer Rose Zamarocy. “There’s just as many small animals left at shelters as there are dogs and cats, if not more,” Zamarocy said. “The number of guinea pigs dumped in shelters is horrendous.” …

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