Chicago Botanic Garden

General Info — Government Relations

Garden Receives $550,000 from Illinois General
Assembly for Lakeshore Restoration

 

Media Only:
Beth Dunn

GLENCOE, Ill. (October 29, 2009)—As part of the recently passed Illinois General Assembly's capital bill, the Chicago Botanic Garden will be awarded $550,000 for lakeshore restoration to complete the repair of 2.6 of the Garden's 5.7 miles of shoreline throughout the Garden. We especially would like to thank Illinois State Senator Terry Link and State Representatives Beth Coulson and Kathy Ryg for their efforts in making this happen.

Since 1999, the Garden has been systematically rejuvenating our lake shoreline using innovative bioengineering techniques that rely heavily on dense stands of healthy shoreline vegetation to arrest erosion and improve aquatic habitat. However, the Garden has yet to complete the 2.6 miles along the North Lake's shoreline including the Fruit and Vegetable Garden. This shoreline is exhibiting increased sloughing, slumping, and sliding of shoreline soils as a result of the September 2008 flood.

Restoration of the remaining 2.6 miles of lakeshore will allow us to be fully prepared for future flooding incidents as well as improve the water quality throughout the Garden's lakes' system.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 24 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs, and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden, and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design, and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research, and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens, and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago's North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.