Urban Escapes
On its centennial celebration, the Garfield Park Conservatory connects with the city
by Max Herman
photo by Max Herman
Located just off Lake Street and the CTA’s Green Line on the city’s West Side, the Garfield Park Conservatory is an easily accessible urban paradise. Within minutes of walking around this massive site, one can be transported to the jungle-like environs of the Fern Room, then moments later enjoy the relaxing, dry heat of the Desert House. In its 100th year, the GPC remains one of the best escapes in the city.
Despite being so isolated from all the popular attractions along the lakefront, the GPC’s attendance continues to steadily rise, and approximately two-thirds of its visitors come from within the city limits. In celebration of its centennial, the conservatory strives to highlight its mission of bringing nature from around the world within arm’s reach of Chicagoans. “Our goal is to have people come and feel engaged,” says Mary Eysenbach, director of conservatoires for the Chicago Park District. “Yes, we love to have tourists come here and marvel at this two acres under glass, this incredible national treasure that we have here. That’s great for us—we like that. But one of our goals is to have the community engage in this place, to participate in this place. And we are learning that we are accomplishing that goal.”
Many shows and events the GPC is holding this year in recognition of the centennial are based around educating the public about nature in the most universal way possible. Such is the case with the new permanent installation “Sugar from the Sun,” which breaks down the process of photosynthesis. But some exhibits are less about science and more about the actual community that surrounds the conservatory.
Earlier this year, Rachel Moore, a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, organized an exhibit called “Conserve A Story.” This show was an interactive experience, which encouraged residents of the area to share memories of the conservatory and Garfield Park by leaving vocal recordings or written recollections.
With help from volunteers like Moore, as well as the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, the site increasingly has become a tangible landmark. The alliance’s relationship with the community isn’t limited to specific events, though, as the group offers ongoing programs like a walking club that meets on the conservatory grounds. “We’re not just a plant museum,” says Eysenbach. “We see ourselves as a catalyst for community revitalization, and we jump at every opportunity to put ourselves into that position. I think that creates a relationship back-and-forth with the community.”
With a hard-working horticultural staff of about 20, the GPC and its eight divergent greenhouses are well cared for. But the upkeep couldn’t be complete without the aid of garden volunteers. Eysenbach says that this year—especially with excess rain and the growth of weeds—she’s looking for volunteers to lend a hand with horticultural maintenance.
Whether you opt to volunteer, stop by the GPC for upcoming events like the County Fair Sept. 20, or just walk around the grounds, there is no better time to visit the 100-year-old site. And as Eysenbach offers, with the cold weather around the corner, it may just be the best vacation destination without leaving the city. “Anyone who lives through Chicago winters should be aware of this place as a means of escape,” says Eysenbach. “It’s cheaper than a plane ticket to Cancun or the Caribbean.”
The Garfield Park Conservatory is located at 300 N. Central Park (312-746-5100); garfieldconservatory.org
by Max Herman
photo by Max Herman
Located just off Lake Street and the CTA’s Green Line on the city’s West Side, the Garfield Park Conservatory is an easily accessible urban paradise. Within minutes of walking around this massive site, one can be transported to the jungle-like environs of the Fern Room, then moments later enjoy the relaxing, dry heat of the Desert House. In its 100th year, the GPC remains one of the best escapes in the city.
Despite being so isolated from all the popular attractions along the lakefront, the GPC’s attendance continues to steadily rise, and approximately two-thirds of its visitors come from within the city limits. In celebration of its centennial, the conservatory strives to highlight its mission of bringing nature from around the world within arm’s reach of Chicagoans. “Our goal is to have people come and feel engaged,” says Mary Eysenbach, director of conservatoires for the Chicago Park District. “Yes, we love to have tourists come here and marvel at this two acres under glass, this incredible national treasure that we have here. That’s great for us—we like that. But one of our goals is to have the community engage in this place, to participate in this place. And we are learning that we are accomplishing that goal.”
Many shows and events the GPC is holding this year in recognition of the centennial are based around educating the public about nature in the most universal way possible. Such is the case with the new permanent installation “Sugar from the Sun,” which breaks down the process of photosynthesis. But some exhibits are less about science and more about the actual community that surrounds the conservatory.
Earlier this year, Rachel Moore, a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, organized an exhibit called “Conserve A Story.” This show was an interactive experience, which encouraged residents of the area to share memories of the conservatory and Garfield Park by leaving vocal recordings or written recollections.
With help from volunteers like Moore, as well as the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, the site increasingly has become a tangible landmark. The alliance’s relationship with the community isn’t limited to specific events, though, as the group offers ongoing programs like a walking club that meets on the conservatory grounds. “We’re not just a plant museum,” says Eysenbach. “We see ourselves as a catalyst for community revitalization, and we jump at every opportunity to put ourselves into that position. I think that creates a relationship back-and-forth with the community.”
With a hard-working horticultural staff of about 20, the GPC and its eight divergent greenhouses are well cared for. But the upkeep couldn’t be complete without the aid of garden volunteers. Eysenbach says that this year—especially with excess rain and the growth of weeds—she’s looking for volunteers to lend a hand with horticultural maintenance.
Whether you opt to volunteer, stop by the GPC for upcoming events like the County Fair Sept. 20, or just walk around the grounds, there is no better time to visit the 100-year-old site. And as Eysenbach offers, with the cold weather around the corner, it may just be the best vacation destination without leaving the city. “Anyone who lives through Chicago winters should be aware of this place as a means of escape,” says Eysenbach. “It’s cheaper than a plane ticket to Cancun or the Caribbean.”
The Garfield Park Conservatory is located at 300 N. Central Park (312-746-5100); garfieldconservatory.org
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