The Bird Sanctuary at McCormick Place combines style, function and a "green" mentality incredibly well. I've made this a running destination spot for my marathon training for a couple of reasons.
After running close to nine miles to get around here, through the Grand corridor from Ukrainian Village towards the tourist mecca known as Navy Pier, and then south along the cluster fuck known as the lake shore path- where sometimes riding or running along here is about as dangerous as trying to run or ride on Lake Shore Drive- it's great to get to a place where there's a nice, peaceful, quiet calm about it. Where you can catch glimpses of a dozen or so different species of birds all because this place was designed to attract those birds.
Humming birds, finches, gulls, sparrows, cardinals, swallows, geese, jays, monk parakeets... The list goes on and on.
But do you want to know one of the best parts about this for me?
The doors to McCormick Place on the southeast corner of the facility, right next to this bird sanctuary, are almost always open, and right inside are some of the cleanest public bathrooms you'll ever find, with a drinking fountain available and cool air to help with a little recovery before you continue on with the rest of your run.
You see- I share one thing in common with all of these birds hanging outside: our bladders are about the same size. read more