Eying the Saving of Briar East Woods
A Unique Piece of Urban Wilds
Casey King plucked trash along the Parrish Avenue side of Briar East Woods, stuffing a white trash bag as we waited for others of Save Briar East Woods before Christmas. Joey Hinds soon joined with his own white trash bag. Then Ken Rosek arrived with fire and passion, pulling out maps of the proposed Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project, whose construction swath would gut this unique piece of urban wilds.
A dune ridge, centerpiece of the woods, makes Briar East Woods unique. It’s a farthermost ridge remnant of the old Tolleston strandplain on Lake Michigan, probably from 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. The ridge itself is black oak savanna. The edges of the 35-acre woods are more disturbed with maples and other plants of disturbed habitat.
Getaway Space and Memories
Briar East Woods is rich with wildlife from red foxes fed by neighbors, deer rutting in the fall, snapping turtles, green frogs, barred owls and eagle flyovers. The day I toured, no squirrels flitted about, but I saw dozens of dreys, as befits a black oak savanna. Same goes for plant diversity.
When Rosek spoke from growing up, it reminded me getaway space is the other major value of urban wilds. At Briar East Lake, he walked on sketchy ice and reminisced, “I always make it a point to ice skate here. There is where I learned to play hockey.”
Save Briar East Woods
Trying to save Briar East Woods draws on creative power more than brute force. Filmmaker Jana Abouhashem’s “Save The Briar Woods East Documentary,” packed Joy Bomb Social Center on Nov. 3 for the premier. It’s now on YouTube.
Rosek, a fan of Jens Jensen and the landscape architect’s work with Humboldt Park, dreams similarly for Briar East Woods, a park he would consider “the gem of Northwest Indiana, if it’s done right.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Briar East Woods unique?
A: Briar East Woods is unique due to its dune ridge, black oak savanna, and diverse plant and animal life.
Q: What are the plans for the woods?
A: The proposed Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project would gut the woods, but proponents of saving the woods are advocating for alternative solutions.
Q: How can I help save Briar East Woods?
A: You can support the efforts of Save Briar East Woods and attend community meetings to learn more about the issue.
Conclusion
The fate of Briar East Woods hangs in the balance. It is up to the community to decide whether this unique piece of urban wilds will be preserved for future generations or lost to development. The creative power of the community, as seen in the documentary, is a testament to the passion and dedication of those who care about this special place.
