Carlson Oxbow Park

Carlson Oxbow Park is an 89-acre[1] nature park located in the Hessville neighborhood of Hammond, Indiana, along the north bank of the Little Calumet River and immediately south of the Borman Expressway. It takes its name from a sharp bend in the Little Calumet that was left behind when the river was straightened in the 20th century, forming an oxbow lake.

Park Entrance Sign

History

The park was first purchased in 1964 for flood control, but the river was straightened in 1975 forming the oxbow.[1] It was dedicated to George W. Carlson, a 32-year member of the Hammond City Council who had played a key role in the park's formation,[2] on October 7, 1998.[3]

Wildlife

Carlson Oxbow Park holds a variety of wildlife species. It is home to the following wetland species: red fox, raccoon, woodchuck, leopard frog and the Eastern cottontail rabbit. It also holds over 50 species of birds including the cardinal, house wren, peregrine falcon, eared grebe and the blue winged teal.[3]

References
  1. Kenneth J. Schoon (2016). Shifting Sands: The Restoration of the Calumet Area. p. 253. ISBN 0253023408.
  2. Steve Zabroski and Pete Nickeas (2011-07-29). "Former Hammond Councilman George Carlson dead at 98". Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved 2017-11-07.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. City of Hammond. "Carlson Oxbow Park". Archived from the original on 2011-04-04.


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