New Capital Projects

In 2010, capital projects were finalized to correspond to the vision and goals set forth in the strategic plan. These include shoreline restoration of the north lake; café renovation for more sustainable practices; a new Children’s Learning Campus; a new Horticulture Center with new greenhouses and nurseries; and a new bike path and woods plan. In 2010, plans were also completed for the Barbara Brown Nature Reserve, Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden, and the Trellis Bridge.

2010 Operating Plans

Read the 2010 Horticulture Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

Read the 2010 Plant Collections Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

Read the 2010 Facilities Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

2011 Operating Plans

Read the 2011 Horticulture Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

Read the 2011 Plant Collections Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

Read the 2011 Facilities Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

North Lake Shoreline Restoration

The Chicago Botanic Garden and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Ecosystem Restoration Program have begun a ten-month Section 206 Ecosystem Restoration Project to restore 6,400 feet of shoreline around the Garden’s North Lake. The project area includes the entire perimeter of the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, as well as areas along the North Lake’s western and northern shoreline.

The Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden

The Children's Growing Garden is designed to be kind to the environment. A water-harvesting system for the entire site plus an "adventure station" rain barrel helps keep the plants growing; solar panels on the roof of the Tool and Potting Shed (actually an attractive support building) offset electrical needs and create a hot-water supply. The garden is surrounded by an open-weave fence covered with different varieties of climbing plants, creating a safe, enclosed space for space for children. Leading into the garden on either side of the stone walkway are two welcoming living walls covered in different species of sedum.

Kleinman Family Cove

Designed by Oehme, van Sweden & Associates and featuring a boardwalk, amphitheater, protected wading area, and native plants, the Cove will enable students, adult educators, and visitors to learn about the critical role freshwater systems play in the health of the natural world. With the nation's largest collection of aquatic plants and 81 acres of lakes and waterways, the Chicago Botanic Garden is uniquely positioned to teach about the importance of freshwater systems.

Capital Projects On the Horizon

Other critical future projects include the new plant production and nursery facility, a new Education Center, a new bike path connecting the Garden to the Green Bay Trail, a renovated Garden Café, and a new McDonald Woods plan.

2012 Operating Plans

Read the 2012 Horticulture Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

Read the 2012 Plant Collections Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

Read the 2012 Facilities and Planning Operating Plan.
(Note: this is a Word file. You will need Microsoft Word to open this file.)

The Garden’s ten-year strategic plan, “Keep Growing,” was launched in 2009. Since then , more than $34 million has been raised to support the capital projects and endowment needs described in the plan. Total funds raised in 2012 eclipsed $26 million, the largest yearly total in the Garden’s history.

Rooted in the Garden’s commitment to educate and inspire the next generation of conservation scientists and land stewards, the Learning Campus will dramatically increase the Garden’s ability to engage learners of all ages. In 2012, two important components of the Learning Campus opened to the public.

The Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden is divided into two outdoor garden classrooms, one open to the general public for drop-in programs, and another designated for registered program participants. Budding gardeners and future scientists "learn by doing" as they water, weed, and harvest plants, guided by expert instructors. On weekends during the summer, families can enjoy drop-in activities.

The Kleinman Family Cove is a center for teaching about the importance of water, a place to investigate aquatic plants and animals, and a reservoir of water conservation information. It is also a perfect place for quiet contemplation. Here, students, adult educators, and visitors to learn about the critical role freshwater systems play in the health of the natural world. Cove features include a boardwalk, amphitheater, protected wading area, and native plants.

Also in 2012, the North Lake Shoreline Restoration Project was completed. The restoration encompasses one and a quarter miles of shoreline around the Garden’s 20-acre North Lake; the restored area includes the entire perimeter of the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, as well as the North Lake’s western and northern shorelines. Since 1999, in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Garden has restored more than three-fourths of the its shoreline. This most recent massive undertaking allows visitors to enjoy new scenic vistas while stabilizing the shoreline and creating important wildlife habitat. More than 120,000 perennials representing 167 native taxa were planted—the largest perennial planting in the Garden’s history.

Sustainability

Thanks to the many sunny (hot!) days we had last year, 2012 was a banner year for generating solar credits. The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center generated 64,468 kilowatt hours (kwh) and the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden generated 2,394 kwh; together they provided the Garden with 58 Solar Renewable Energy credits, which we sold for $14,277. Our solar generating methods offset CO2 emissions in 2012 by 82,462 pounds. Also in 2012, In 2012, the Garden reduced pesticide use by 5 percent in an effort to employ environmental best practices while enhancing the scope of our collections.

Several major capital improvement projects are on the Garden’s horizon.

Plant Production Facilities
The gorgeous plant displays at the Chicago Botanic Garden, outside and indoors, are the result of horticultural ingenuity, meticulous planning, and patience. But the demand for more and unusual plants has strained the existing production facilities, which are in dire need of an overhaul. In response, the Garden has made the expansion of the plant production facilities one of its highest priorities. Annuals, perennials, tropicals, bonsai, orchids, and seedlings of rare plants are crowded into an assortment of greenhouses, some built in 1969 and others that were donated used in 1981. New energy-efficient greenhouses will increase the indoor growing space from its current 18,000 square feet to more than 50,000 square feet. The structures will have 26 climate-controlled zones compared to the 11 currently in place, and the new outdoor nursery space will be 130,000 square feet. The first phase of the project is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2014, when the in-ground nursery will be moved. Additional phases will take place as funding becomes available.

Education Center
The future hub of the Learning Campus will be the Education Center, a platinum LEED-certified facility designed by Booth Hansen, architects of the Garden’s award-winning Ada F. and Daniel L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. Imagine students of all ages and abilities learning about plants and the complex environmental factors—climate, water, human development, and invasive species—that support or undermine healthy ecosystems. Even better, picture them in a sustainably built, light-filled space as they explore ecosystem biodiversity. The Education Center is designed as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum project by the architecture firm of Booth Hansen in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) of Boulder, Colorado.

New Display Gardens
Renowned landscape architects Mikyoung Kim and Peter Wirtz have been selected to create two new display gardens that, when built, will complete the main features of the Garden’s master site plan and confirm the Garden’s role as a world leader in horticultural excellence, visitor engagement, environmental education, and conservation research.

Kim’s preliminary plan offers a gateway to nature for children and their families entering the Learning Campus. We are currently fundraising for the new Education Center, which will anchor the campus. Each of the eight classrooms will open to an outdoor garden and serve students of all ages from dawn to dusk. This new campus will significantly increase our ability to expose students to the wonders and science of nature.

Wirtz’s design is part of a new Greenhouse and Nursery Campus encompassing all plant production functions. Located on the far south end of the Garden, this facility will expand and modernize the Garden’s production capabilities to grow and maintain more exotic plants, including orchids. Wirtz’s design will transform this sleepy [better?—underused] part of the Garden into a major public destination.

Other Projects
Other critical future projects include the new plant production and nursery facility, a new bike path that will connect the Garden’s entrance to the Green Bay Trail, a renovated Garden Café, and a new McDonald Woods plan.