The University of Chicago's Botany Pond has undergone a major restoration aimed at creating a sustainable and self-regulating ecosystem. The nearly 125-year-old pond, originally designed in 1902 by John C. Olmsted and Professor John Coulter, now features clear water, native aquatic plants, and various species of fish and turtles.
After physical renovations to the pond’s circulation system and bridge, the university’s Facilities team led by landscape architect Katie Martin Peck worked with faculty experts, outside consultants, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to reintroduce wildlife. “There wasn’t really a blueprint for this kind of project,” Martin Peck said.
The restoration focused on building an ecosystem that could thrive with minimal human intervention while honoring the pond’s origins as a place shaped by academic scholarship. At the foundation are bacteria seeded from local mud samples, followed by algae and phytoplankton. Zooplankton were collected from Jackson Park Lagoon with help from Prof. Emeritus Michael LaBarbera.
“Oh, look! See these little swimming white spots? Those are copepods. They’re in the crustacean family. And some of them, you’ll see a dot where the body joins the tail—those are egg sacs. So this looks really good,” said LaBarbera during one collection trip. “They’ll populate the whole pond very quickly."
LaBarbera emphasized zooplankton’s importance as food for young fish: “The pond would acquire these eventually—on the feet of migratory birds like ducks, perhaps—but it might take several years, and until then the fish will have a hard time.”
With foundational species established, six native fish species—including channel catfish and several minnows—were introduced after consultation with biologists such as Prof. Mark Westneat: “There’s actually quite a lot of interesting, diverse fish in the streams and ponds here in Illinois—more than fifty species of minnows alone.” More than 700 native fish have been added so far.
Five turtles that previously lived in Botany Pond were returned after being cared for during construction. Native sedges were planted for ducklings to nestle in alongside stones for easier access to waterfowl.
Additional species including snails, crayfish, and frog tadpoles will be introduced next spring to further develop the food chain within the ecosystem.
In total, 11 different aquatic plant species now inhabit Botany Pond alongside carefully selected land plants designed for year-round interest.
“We wanted to parallel the original plan for the pond,” said Martin Peck. “It’s not a showcase for exotic species anymore, but we wanted to nod to its past with a very biodiverse mix of plants.”
Viewing patios and seating have been included for visitors while islands provide safe retreats for animals; improvements also include repairs to the historic bridge gifted by UChicago's Class of 1922.
The project was recently honored with the President’s Award of Excellence by the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects in recognition of its historic restoration efforts.
“We know this is a really beloved and meaningful spot for a lot of people,” said Martin Peck. “People seem to love to see it revived, and we think it’ll be fun for visitors to watch the ecosystem evolve.”