Carlson Oxbow Park facts for kids
Carlson Oxbow Park is a cool 89-acre nature park. It's found in the Hessville area of Hammond, Indiana. The park sits right next to the Little Calumet River. It's also just south of the busy Borman Expressway. The park gets its name from a special kind of lake. This lake is called an "oxbow lake." It formed when the river was made straight many years ago. The old bend in the river was left behind, creating the lake.
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How Carlson Oxbow Park Began
The land for Carlson Oxbow Park was bought in 1964. It was first meant to help control floods. Floods happen when rivers overflow their banks. Making the river straighter helped prevent this. In 1975, the Little Calumet River was straightened. This is how the "oxbow" part of the park was created.
Honoring George W. Carlson
The park was officially named on October 7, 1998. It was dedicated to George W. Carlson. Mr. Carlson was a very important person in Hammond. He served on the Hammond City Council for 32 years. He worked hard to help create this park. His efforts made it a reality for everyone to enjoy.
Who Lives Here? Amazing Wildlife!
Carlson Oxbow Park is home to many different animals. It's a great place for wildlife to live. You can find wetland animals here. These are creatures that love wet, marshy areas.
Animals You Might See
Some of the animals living in the park include:
- red fox
- raccoon
- woodchuck (also known as a groundhog)
- leopard frog
- Eastern cottontail rabbit
Birds of the Park
The park is also a fantastic spot for birdwatching! Over 50 different kinds of birds have been seen here. Some of the colorful and interesting birds include:
- cardinal (a bright red bird)
- house wren
- peregrine falcon (a very fast bird of prey)
- eared grebe
- blue winged teal
