As a native Chicagoan, this book was a revelation to me. I had no idea how much the city had changed since I left 5 years ago. Millions of dollars have been spent to affect an "Environmental Renaissance" - new 'green' zones, wildlife habititats, rooftop gardens, etc. The photography is breathtaking, and the writing is almost conversational. If anyone knows Chicago better than Kenan Heise, let him or her speak up! If you are a Chicagoan, this book will introduce you to a city you never knew. If you aren't from the city, this book may convince you to move there!

This is a paperback book in the Images of America series. This book is a must for those interested in Chicago history, especially for one who has lived in Chicago for many years.

The book contains numerous historic photographs of Chicago's parks and boulevards, many from the 19th and early 20th centuries. I found the text interesting, especially short biographical sketches of historical figures for whom the various parks are named. It also contains little known facts about the park system for the student of Chicago history.

The book is organized by sections of Chicago--West Side, South Side and North Side parks. Although the book is not indexed, one can easily find the section of the city in which one is interested.

I was thoroughly entertained by this book.