[♪♪♪] >> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> GOOD EVENING TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

I'M MICHAEL PUENTE REPORTING WITH WBEZ CHICAGO.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... AN UPTICK IN CARAY LATED INJURIES AND DEATHS FOR CHICAGO'S BICYCLISTS TO CALL FOR IMPROVED CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> A NEW PLAN FOR THE LAKE CALUMET PORT OF CHICAGO REGION PLACES NATURE, RECREATION AND INDUSTRY SIDE-BY-SIDE.

>> UP COMING FESTIVALS OFFER FUN IN THE SUN IN CHICAGO'S HUMBOLDT PARK AND BACK OF THE YARDS NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> AND FAN TASS CAL FOLK ART CREATURES MAKE A DEBUT.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, THE INCONSISTENT PATCHWORK OF PROTECTED BIKE LANES CAN MAKE CHICAGO STREETS A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR BICYCLISTS.

FROM 12-2019 AN AVERAGE OF FIVE TO SIX BICYCLISTS WERE KILLED EVERY YEAR IN CHICAGO.

SINCE THE PANDEMIC THAT NUMBER TICKED UP TO NINE DEATHS IN 2020 AND 10 DEATHS IN 2021.

SO FAR THIS YEAR, THREE BICYCLISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY CARS.

AND THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING AGENCY REPORTED A 25% JUMP IN SERIOUS INJURIES TO CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS FROM 2020-2021.

BUT DESPITE THE CITY'S PLAN TO DO MORE TO PROTECT CYCLISTS, TRANSIT ADVOCATES SAY THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO TO MAKE THE STREETS A WELCOMING PLACE FOR BIKES.

JOINING MARY ESPOSITO-USTERBOWSKI NOW WITH MORE 0 LENA GUERRERO REYNOLDS, AUDREY WENNINK DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AT THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL.

AND RUTH ROSAS, A BICYCLING ADVOCATE WITH THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY NETWORK.

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON LATINO VOICES.

>> LENA GUERRERO REYNOLDS, YOU ARE A COMMUTER NEAR A NORTHWEST SIDE INTERSECTION THAT HAS BEEN THE SITE OF TWO FATALITIES IN RECENT YEARS.

DO YOU FEEL SAFE ON YOUR DAILY COMMUTE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S SCARY WHEN STUFF LIKE THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT COULD BE ANYONE OF US, RIGHT?

AND IT'S SAD, TOO, FOR THE FAMILIES THAT ARE LOST SOMEONE.

I STILL THINK THAT BIKING IS THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND TOWN IT'S EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE.

AND I JUST WANT IT TO BE SAFER SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> RUTH ROSAS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH TO BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE IN CHICAGO?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE REALLY GREAT IDEA IF THEY DO ACTUALLY GO FORWARD WITH A LOT OF THE PLANS TO EXPAND THE BIKE NETWORK.

BUT I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF EQUITABLE PRACTICES NEED TO BE EMBEDDED INTO THE ACTUAL CREATION OF BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE MAKING SURE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED AND LEFT OUT OF CREATING A BICYCLE LANES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES OR HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OR INVISIBLIZED IN THE BICYCLING COMMUNITY NEED TO BE SOUTH OUT FOR INPUT ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

MAKING SURE THAT EQUITY IS AT THE FOREFRONT.

>> AUDREY WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE ALDERMEN PLAYING IN BICYCLISTS' PROTECTION.

>> THEY CAN BE A DEFINITE SOURCE FOR GOOD WHEN THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF BIKE LANES.

AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF INSTALLING PROTECTED BIKE LANES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THAT CYCLISTS ARE NOT RIDING ONLY WITH A STRIPE OF PAINT AS PROTECTION BUT IDEALLY HAVE A CONCRETE PROTECTED BIKE LANE SO THEY FEEL ACTUAL SAFE AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES COME OUT AND RIDE.

>> LENA GUERRERO REYNOLDS, WHAT STEPS HAVE YOU TAKEN TO AVOID DANGEROUS ROUTES WHILE CYCLING?

AND IS IT DIFFERENT IN THE SUMMER COMPARED TO WINTER?

>> YEAH, I'VE GONE FAR OUT OF MY WAY ESPECIALLY IF I KNOW I'M RIDING LATER AT NIGHT OR WEEKENDS WHEN PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE INTOXICATED BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO LIKE TAKE THE LAKEFRONT TRAILER THE OFF STREET TRAILS, IT CAN BE MILES OUT OF OUR WAY.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO USE BIKING AS A FORM OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THEIR STORES, SCHOOLS, FAMILY HOUSES WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND NOT JUST IN THESE EDGES AND DISTANT PLACES THAT ARE HARD TO MAKE IT PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.

I TRY AND DO WHAT I CAN TO BE AWARE BUT IT IS SUCH A COMPLICATED PROCESS AND IT TAKES ALL OF US EVERYBODY, AND WE NEED BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE BUT IT DOESN'T FALL ON INDIVIDUALS.

>> STAYING WITH YOU, DO YOU VIEW THE PEOPLE SAY CHICAGO IS A BIKE FRIENDLY CITY.

DO YOU VIEW THAT THAT WAY?

>> YEAH, I MEAN WE'RE A FLAT CITY WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE ASSET THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE A GREAT GRID NETWORK AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FIND MORE SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY.

BUT IT IS A SHAME WHEN WE HEAR LEADERSHIP SAYING THIS IS JUST A DRIVING TOWN DISMISSING ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT, WHO TAKE BICYCLES WHO WALK AS FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION AND ALWAYS HAVE THROUGHOUT CHICAGO HISTORY.

AND YOU KNOW THERE ARE WAYS OF MAKING ALL OF THESE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION SAFE.

AND WE JUST NEED TO BE UTILIZING THEM.

>> RUTH ROSAS, HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC IN YOUR VIEW IMPACTED CYCLING PATTERNS AND TRAFFIC SAFETY?

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T MAYBE PREVIOUSLY CYCLING IN THE CITY SOUGHT OUT CYCLING AS A FORM OF GETTING AROUND BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF MAYBE BEING IN PUBLIC TRANSIT DURING THE PANDEMIC OR THEY WANTED TO BE OUTSIDE AND SO MANY PEOPLE WENT OUT TO BIKE SHOPS AND GOT BIKES THAT CHANGED A LOT OF ACCESS TO CYCLING FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

AND ALSO THE EXPANSION OF THE NETWORK ALLOWED PEOPLE TO ACCESS BIKES THAT PREVIOUSLY DID NOT HAVE BIKE STATIONS.

BUT IT DEFINITELY HAS TRAFFIC AND THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC CRASHES AND THE INCREASE, AND SAFETY HAS CHANGED THE WAY THAT PEOPLE, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CLOSE CALLS AND I THINK THAT BIKE SAFETY NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CRASHES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

>> AUDREY, DO YOU THINK CHICAGO'S GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY VIEWS BICYCLING AS TRANSPORTATION VERSUS JUST RECREATION?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLANS THAT DO SAY THE RIGHT THINGS.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN LISTS SHIFTING PEOPLE TO SUSTAINABLE MODES AS AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY.

HOWEVER THERE IS A COMPLETE STREETS DESIGN GUIDELINES POLICY AND THAT MEANS PRIORITIZING WHO IS THE PRIORITY ON EACH STREET?

AND THAT HIERARCHY IS SUPPOSED TO BE PEDESTRIANS ARE NUMBER ONE.

TRANSIT IS NUMBER TWO.

CYCLISTS ARE THREE AND CARS ARE LAST.

THAT WOULD MEAN THE WAY YOU ALLOCATE STREET SPACE, THE WAY YOU MANAGE SPEEDS, THE WAY YOU DESIGN ROADS, WOULD MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE AND SAFER AGAIN PRIORITIZING THE MORE VULNERABLE USE E., TRANSIT, PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.

AND I THINK THOSE GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER A DECADE AND I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY ON MOST STREETS IT FEELS THAT WAY.

THAT PEDESTRIANS FEEL SUPER SAFE CROSSING STREETS THAT CYCLISTS HAVE A COMPLETE NETWORK OF PROTECTED BIKE LANES.

SO I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

BUT WE HAVE TO DEDICATE ENOUGH RESOURCES BOTH FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES TO MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

>> LENA GUERRERO REYNOLDS, AS A BIKE COMMUTER HOW DO YOU THINK CAR DRIVERS REGARD YOU ON THE STREETS?

>> DEPENDS.

THERE'S DEFINITELY DANGEROUS FOLKS OUT THERE AND AGGRESSIVE FOLKS.

BUT EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES AND CAN BE DISTRACTED WE SHOULD HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT AND KEEPS YOU SAFE EVEN IN DANGEROUS CONFLICTING SITUATIONS.

I THINK DURING THE PANDEMIC A LOT MORE DRIVERS HAVE GOTTEN FASTER AND CARS HAVE GOTTEN BIGGER AND THE DANGERS ARE MORE REAL EVEN IF THE PRACTICES OVER THE PAST ARE THE SAME.

SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE REALLY ACCOUNTING FOR THOSE FACTORS THAT MAKE IT MORE DANGEROUS AND IMPLEMENTING BETTER PROTECTED BIKE LANE NETWORKS.

>> OUR THANKS TO LENA GUERRERO REYNOLDS, AUDREY WENNINK AND RUTH ROSAS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, THE FUTURE OF LAKE CALUMET.

STAY WITH US.

>> THE 442 ACRE LAKE CALUMET IS PERHAPS THE MOST ADVISESSABLE REMNANT OF THE RISE AND FALL OF INDUSTRY ON CHICAGO'S SOUTHEAST SIDE.

OVER THE YEARS AS PART OF THE PORT OF CHICAGO, THE VERY SHAPE OF THE LAKE HAS BEEN CHANGED BY INDUSTRY.

AND YEARS OF INDUSTRIAL ABUSE HAVE TAKEN A TOLL ON THE WATER, SOIL AND AIR.

AND FOR THE PAST FEW DECADES MOST OF THE LAKE HAS BEEN FENCED OFF AND INACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS WHO ONCE VISITED FOR RECREATION.

BUT THERE ARE HARBINGERS OF CHANGE WITH THE DESIGNATED PULLMAN NATIONAL MONUMENT BRINGING IN TOURISTS AND NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL PORT DISTRICT.

AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY FOR PLANNING ISSUED ITS MASTER PLAN FOR LAKE CALUMET WHICH IT SAYS CREATES A PLACE WHERE INDUSTRY, NATURE AND RECREATION CAN COEXIST.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE, DUSTIN CALLIARI, A SENIOR PLANNER AT THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY FOR PLANNING WHO MANAGED THE PORT DISTRICT MASTER PLAN PROJECT.

AND TOM SHEPHERD AN ENVIRONMENTALIST ACTIVIST WITH THE LAKE CALUMET VISION COMMITTEE.

DUSTIN, HOW DID THE MASTER PLAN COME ABOUT?

AND WHO WERE PARTNERS INVOLVED IN CREATING THE PLAN?

>> FOR SURE.

C MAP STARTING WORKING WITH THE PORT DISTRICT GOING BACK TO 2017.

IDPD CAME TO US LOOKING FOR PLANNING ASSISTANCE AND LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF THE PORT DISTRICT AND HOW, CREATING A MASTER VISION FOR WHERE IT CAN GO.

>> NOW, TOM, ARE YOU A LONGTIME SOUTHEAST SIDE RESIDENT.

WHAT WAS LAKE CALUMET LIKE WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?

>> WELL, IT WAS MYSTERIOUS AND FUN AND YOU COULD JUST WALK ON TO THE PROPERTY AROUND THE LAKE AT THAT TIME.

YOU COULD THROW A FISHING POLE INTO THE WATER AND CATCH FISH OR HIKE AROUND THERE.

SOME PEOPLE HUNTED.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY WILD OUT THERE.

AND TO HAVE THAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOUTH SIDE, IT COULD BE SO MUCH MORE OF AN ASSET THAN HAVING IT FENCED OFF AND CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

>> TOM, DO YOU THINK MOST CHICAGOANS REALIZE THERE IS LAKE CALUMET AND ALL THE NATURE THAT IS DOWN THERE?

>> NO.

AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, MICHAEL, SO MANY FOLKS DON'T KNOW THERE IS A LAKE BACK THERE.

IF YOU DRIVE DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY WHICH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS DO EVERYDAY THERE IS A BERM OUT THERE YOU CANNOT SEE.

YOU CANNOT TELL THERE'S NATURAL SPACES WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND CERTAINLY COULD NEVER GET OUT TO ENJOY IT UNLESS YOU WERE PLAYING A ROUND OF GOLF OUT THERE.

>> HOW MUCH ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION IS NEEDED AT THE SITE?

>> SURE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE PLAN TAKES A LOOK AT IN TERMS OF WATER QUALITY AS WELL AS SOME OF THE SOIL QUALITY.

SO THE PLAN ITSELF DOESN'T DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION NEEDED BUT IT RECOMMENDS FOR THE STUDIES PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE OF CREATING MORE WILDLIFE HABITAT UP AT THE SQUARE MARSH AND TREATMENT WED LANTDS WITHIN LAKE CALUMET AND YOU KNOW, FUTURE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE LAKE, THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP IS GOING TO BE A CRUCIAL FIRST STEP.

>> NOW, TOM, WHAT LEVEL OF INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY IS THERE TO SEE MORE NATURAL RECREATION AT LAKE CALUMET?

>> OH, GOSH, THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT SOUTH SIDE HAS BEEN SHORTCHANGED FOR MANY YEARS ON OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND.

WITH ONE FELL SWOOP WE CAN MAKE THIS A DESTINATION POINT AND PROVIDE RECREATION FOR PEOPLE IN ALL SORTS OF AREAS FROM KAYAKING AND FISHING AND BIRD WATCHING AND HIKING AND BICYCLE PEDALING AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE OUT THERE.

THEY HAD 2200 ACRES AND WITH ONLY A FEW HUNDRED ACRES SET ASIDE FOR THE PUBLIC WE CAN DO AN AWFUL LOT AND I'M SO HAPPY THE NEW BOARD AND THE NEW DIRECTION AND C MAP PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT AND BROAD MINDED.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WONDERFUL THINGS OUT THERE.

>> WELL, SPEAKS OF THE NEW BOARD, THE PORT DISTRICT HAS NEW LEADERSHIP IN PLACE.

ARE THERE ANY INDICATIONS THEY WILL BE RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEAS IN THE MASTER PLAN?

>> YES.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ERIC, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS WELLS THE PORT BOARD THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THE PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2019.

WE PUT THE PROJECT ON PAUSE IN LATE 2020 WHILE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION WAS VACANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE PLAN CAME TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE FINALIZING THINGS, THAT WE HAD BUY IN FROM THE NEW LEADERSHIP, FROM THE BOARD, AND EVERYONE'S ROWING THE SAME DIRECTION.

>> TOM, WHAT RESISTANCE TO RESTORING NATURAL AREAS AND ACCESS TO LAKE CALUMET HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED?

>> WELL, JUST ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM LAKE CALUMET IS HUNDREDS OF ACRES THAT THE SHERWIN WILLIAMS FACTORY OCCUPIED AND IT WAS GOING TO BE SO COSTLY TO REMEDIATE IT THEY COVERED WITH ASPHALT.

DOZENS OR HUNDREDS.

THINGS LIKE THAT ARE HAPPENING.

WE'RE HOPING THAT SOME FEDERAL FUNDING IS GOING TO COME IN AND ASSIST THE PORT DISTRICT BOARD AND THE MANAGEMENT THERE TO DO CLEAN UP AND ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO BE OUT ON THE PROPERTY.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT LEVEL, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME NATIVE SPECIES REINTRODUCED AND INVASIVE SPECIES TAKEN OUT.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOOD THINGS HAPPENING FROM HERE.

>> DUSTIN, WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE MASTER PLAN?

>> FOR SURE.

THE MASTER PLAN IS CURRENTLY IN DRAFT FORM.

IT IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND THE C MAP WEBSITE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO TAKING FEEDBACK RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE LOOKING TO FINALIZE THAT THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

AND THE PLAN WILL BE UP FOR FORMAL ADOPTION BY THE PORT BOARD COME JUNE 17TH.

AND FROM THERE THAT IS WHERE THE FUN STARTS THAT IS WHERE WE START TO LOOK AT IMPLEMENTATION, HOW DO WE MAKE THE DECISION THAT THE PORT AND C MAP AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS INCLUDING LAKE CALUMET VISION COMMITTEE HELPED DEVELOP OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

HOW DO WE TURN THAT INTO REALITY.

AND THAT IS WHERE THE REAL FUN IS GOING TO START.

>> GREAT.

OUR THANKS TO DUSTIN CALLIARI AND TOM SHEPHERD.

>> THERE'S MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

FESTIVAL SEASON IS IN FULL SWING AND TWO UP COMING FIESTAS ARE BACK.

FIRST THEY ARE BRINGING A TROPICAL TASTE CULTURE AND SOUNDS TO HUMBOLDT PARK NEXT WEEKEND.

THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY IS MORE THAN READY TO CELEBRATE ONCE AGAIN.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE JUNE 9-12 IN HUMBOLDT PARK, CHICAGO.

AND WE'RE DOING COMMUNITY DAY AND WE INVITE EVERYONE TO CHECK IT OUT.

WE WILL HAVE CARNIVAL FOR THE KIDS, HAVE FUN AND LIKE A LOT OF KIDS' ACTIVITIES.

[INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AS WELL MORE ARTISTS COMING IN.

EVERYONE IS ITCHING TO GET OUT, BRING OUT THE FAMILIES.

THEY WANT TO SHOW THEIR PUERTO RICAN PRIDE.

PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE CULTURE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND MAKE IT AN AWESOME COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE.

>> BACK TO THE YARDS WILL BE BACK ON 47TH STREET NEXT WEEKEND AS WELL.

THE BACK OF THE YARDS COUPLE SAYS THEIR 30TH YEAR WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE BLOCK OFF 47TH STREET AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING FOOD VENDORS AND FUN EVENTS THAT GO ON FOR THREE DAYS, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 11 AND 12.

WE HAVE TWO STAGES WITH 30 BANDS THAT WILL PERFORM ON OUR MAIN STAGE.

YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING YOU WILL LIKE.

OVER 30 FOOD VENDORS AND MOST IS MEXICAN FOOD BUT WE HAVE FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

AND CULTURAL STAGE WE WILL HAVE MUSIC FROM AROUND THE CITY.

AND THEY WILL BE PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

THE CULTURE WE CELEBRATE IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY JOYS BECAUSE WE ARE IDENTIFYING AS PREDOMINANTLY A MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE HERITAGE.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON BOTH FESTIVALS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> FROM EMBROIDERED TEXTILES TO POTTERY TO LEGHTDER GOODS, MEXICO EFOLK ART TRADITIONS BURST ARE THE COLOR AND LIFE OF THE COUNTRY.

SOME TRADITIONS HAVE ORIGINS REACHING BACK CENTURIES ONE FOLK ART FORM IS NOT 100 YEARS AGO.

THE CREATURES WHICH DATE BACK TO THE 1930s.

THE ART FORM EXPLODED IN POPULARITY WHEN ONE WAS FEATURED IN THE 2015 PICTURE.

NOW MADE BY MEXICAN ARTISANS HAVE TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN A NORTH SUBURBAN PARK.

ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THIS VERY BIG STORY.

>> YOU'RE NOT DREAMING.

GIANT FAN TASS CAL CREATURES LIKE TWO HEADED DOGS AND RABBITS AND KANGAROOS ARE IN THE FLOWERS.

CAN TINY PARK.

18 VERSIONS OF THE FOLK ART ARE IN THE PARK AS PART OF AN EXHIBIT IN COLLABORATION WITH ARTISTS COLLECTIVES IN MEXICO CITY.

>> IF YOU'VE TRAVELED TO MEXICO YOU MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT ONE HOME LIKE THIS CAT.

BUT THESE ARE MUCH CLOSER TO THE ORIGINAL ARTIST'S DREAM CREATURES THAT EXISTED ONLY IN HIS IMAGINATION.

THEY ARE ALSO A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

>> THE ARTISTS SAY THE INSPIRATION FOR THE INTRICATE ADORN.

CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE.

>> HE CONSTRUCTED HIS A COMBINATION OF TUCAN, JAGUAR AND BULL AND BUTTERFLY WITH RECYCLING MATERIALS LIKE PAPER AND PLASTIC BOTTLES HE SOLICITED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> THE VISITING ARTISTS SAY THEY HOPE THEIR BIG AND BRILLIANT ART WILL INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MEXICO'S MANY TRADITIONS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> THE EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT CAN CONTINUENY PARK THROUGH OCTOBER.

IN ADDITION, ANOTHER 30 ARE ON DISPLAY THROUGHOUT THE GARDENS AND INSIDE THE FIRST MUSEUM.

CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE.

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. AND DON'T FORGET YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON 91.5FM, WBEZ.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" LATANYA MCDADE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

I'M MICHAEL PUENTE.

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