Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration
District to Continue Monarch Butterfly Stewardship
At its June 26 meeting, the Elmhurst Park District Board of Park Commissioners passed a resolution to formally commit the District’s continued practices of working with the DuPage Monarch Project and being a leader in the maintaining and promoting of monarch habitats throughout Elmhurst.
The decline of the monarch butterfly has raised public awareness in calling for organizations to help protect these species and foster habitats for monarchs and other pollinators.
Park District applies for IPRA Outstanding Facility Award for Wilder Park Conservatory
The IPRA ( Illinois Park & Recreation Association) awards agencies for outstanding and unique achevements in the design and development of a renovated facility. This year, the Elmhurst Park District has entered a submission for the beautiful restoration of Wilder Park Conservatory which reopened in April of 2014. The winners will be announced at the January IAPD/IPRA conference awards luncheon. We'll let you know if we take home the award!
Simplicity with Grace: The Wilder Park Conservatory Restoration Story
After a long winter, staff is excited to finish the last leg of the Wilder Park Conservatory Project - the landscaping. One of the basic principles of landscape architecture is for the landscape to accentuate the building like a picture frame and not draw attention away from the masterpiece. This specific landscape principle will be applied to the surroundings of the historic Wilder Park Conservatory, resulting in Simplicity with Grace. The landscaping is expected to hit completion by Friday, April 18.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project - What Polar Vortex?
Spring has arrived early at the Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse. Inside it is a comfortable 80 degrees and the springlike scent of soil and plants lingers. It's hard to believe that just on the other side of the glass is the frigid winds and arctic temperatures of another polar vortex. The contractors continue to wrap up their work; completing paint touch-ups, hanging exterior lights, and installing the Conservatory windows and vestibule. The unfrozen portions of the perimeter construction fence have been removed, giving patrons a better look at the restore
PARC Funding Received for Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project
The fully restored Wilder Park Conservatory and beautiful new greenhouse, scheduled to open to the public on April 12, 2014, were partially funded thanks to a Park & Recreational Facility Construction Act (PARC) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR.) The grant funding was created by Public Act 096-0820 to provide grants to be disbursed by the IDNR to eligible local governments for park and recreation unit construction projects. The grant program stipulates that the District initially fund the entire cost of the project, with reimbursement at 50% and
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project - Going Green
The Propagating House is going green, as plants have been moved back into the facility from their temporary homes throughout the District. Meanwhile, carpenters are installing the wood windows and doors in the Conservatory. They are also framing the new Conservatory vestibule. The use of wood in the Conservatory is part of the restoration process, returning the structure to its original form. The installation of the new fence surrounding the Propagating House has been completed and provides a secure area for the storage of materials. Behind the scenes Par
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project - Wrapping Up Construction
As the project winds down the scope of the work on the Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Restoration Project has shifted from large-scale items to detail work. Electricians are programming the building’s automation systems for heating and ventilation. Carpenters are framing the Conservatory’s vestibule and will hang the perimeter windows in the coming weeks. The hardware for the new ADA-accessible exterior doors has been installed and includes automatic openers. The old fence surrounding the Propagating House has been removed and new posts were set with n
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project - Rounding Third and Heading Home
Construction crews are in the final stages of the Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Restoration Project. The most noticeable progress is that nearly all the glass panels are up in the Conservatory, Greenhouse, and Propagating House. The remaining sections of glass are custom jobs. The glass panels on the east and west walls of the Link all must be hand-cut due to their shape, while the perimeter wood-framed windows for the Conservatory are being custom-made in order to maintain the historical character required by the restoration guidelines. Meanwhile the perim
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project - Light It Up!
The past two weeks have been filled with activity at the Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse. New light fixtures featuring an antique bronze finish that fits the time period of the Conservatory‘s original construction were installed in the Greenhouse.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project - Sidewalks & Scaffolding
A new sidewalk has been installed along the north end of the Conservatory that connects to the link. The link is a new structure that connects the Conservatory and Greenhouse. It provides two new entryways to the Conservatory on the north and south sides. Additionally, scaffolding was erected throughout the interior of the Conservatory. The scaffolding eliminates the need for scissor lifts and extension ladders and provides the tradesmen better access to the structure.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Moving in the Right Direction
Work on the Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Restoration Project continues with a shift from larger structural jobs to smaller more detail-oriented tasks.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - What’s Up?
What’s up in Wilder Park? The Greenhouse! In a matter of days construction crews framed-out the Greenhouse, installing the trusses and support posts and beams. The Greenhouse’s full size and shape is now evident as the structure has risen from its concrete foundation. As the Greenhouse goes up, the floor in the Conservatory goes down.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - The Main Event
Over the past two weeks the construction crews completed the connection to the City’s water main. The new piping runs from the Greenhouse boiler room south to the Church Street parkway. In order to make the connection a portion of the gardens had to be removed.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Conservatory Project Powers Up
The Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Restoration Project is boring… Directional boring! This is a system of installing pipe or conduit that is less impactful on the surrounding area because it does not require excavating and trenching.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Making the Connection
The Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Restoration Project keeps moving forward. The foundation for the link between the Greenhouse and Conservatory has been completed connecting the two facilities.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Behind the Scenes
The Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Restoration Project continues; the frames for the foundations have been removed and construction crews have begun to backfill the spaces surrounding the foundations.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Conservatory on Solid Footing
The Wilder Park Conservatory and Greenhouse Restoration Project is starting to take shape-literally. The framings for the foundations of the Greenhouse and Propagating House were completed and the new foundations were poured.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Demolition Continues
The Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration Project continues to progress. The panes of glass lining the Conservatory structure have been completely removed, leaving behind the bare frame. The boiler room has also been cleared out, paving the way for new, efficient HVAC systems.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Demolition Begins
Residents passing through Wilder Park will notice a lot of activity surrounding the conservatory. The construction crews have prepared the work site by removing the retaining walls in front of the conservatory and building a temporary access road from the driveway along the north side of the conservatory.
Wilder Park Conservatory & Greenhouse Restoration - Where Did The Plants Go?
With construction starting soon, everything must be cleared out of the Wilder Park Conservatory. The District is trying to save as much as possible of the conservatory plant collection.