It’s Now Six Prestigious Honors For The Morton Arboretum’s Award-Winning Children’s Garden
Recent Pair Of Awards For “The Best Backyard In The World”
LISLE, IL (December 15, 2006) – The news keeps getting sweeter and sweeter about this particular piece of eye candy.
The sparkling, new Children’s Garden at The Morton Arboretum has now drawn six prestigious awards from professional design or construction organizations. The latest is the “President's Award” in the Commercial Design category from the American Society of Landscape Architects, Illinois Chapter. This is the organization’s top award. It went to Hitchcock Design Group of Naperville for designing the Children’s Garden, developing the schematic plans of EDAW of Colorado.
“Jurors” from the Indiana chapter who judged the Illinois entries concluded the garden “exhibits leadership, sensitivity and highly effective education,” according to Ann Viger, ASLA Illinois Chapter President.
Viger herself visited the Children’s Garden, and later said “it blew me away, it was incredible. I spent an hour there. I wish I could have spent the whole day.”
Additionally, the ASLA’s Colorado Chapter bestowed its President’s Award for Commercial Design to the Children’s Garden design as well – meaning the Arboretum destination won in two state chapters of this organization.
Said Hitchcock’s Eric Hornig, “we’re thrilled to have taken part in a project that so fully engages children and families in educational and playful interaction with nature, in such a lovely setting.”
Landscape Architect Magazine has called the Children’s Garden “The Best Backyard in the World.” The garden is fun for youngsters, and sparks their curiosity about nature.
“Given the diminishing opportunities for children to have meaningful experiences in nature, the Children’s Garden provides a vital service to boys and girls, and increases their appreciation for trees,” Katherine Johnson, Children’s Garden Manager, said.
Nationally, the $10.5 million Children’s Garden is one of the largest gardens of its kind with four acres of trees, shrubs, aquatic plants and play spaces – and is one of the best and most unique outdoor destinations in Chicagoland.
The garden features ten smaller gardens where children explore larger-than-life roots, as well as an elaborate water garden. Youngsters follow stepping stones through a pond, crawl across a net suspended above the “prairie,” slide down giant tree roots and climb colossal acorns.
At the Tree Finder Grove, a “matching game” teaches kids to identify trees. Children match the leaves of 16 regional trees seen on a spinning granite ball that’s suspended in water, with the tree species named on the surrounding sidewalk.
The following is a complete list of Children’s Garden honors:
- Colorado Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects
The Children’s Garden Master Plan awarded 2003 Honor Award for Planning and Urban Design - Midwest Construction Magazine
Best of 2005, Award of Merit in the Site/Landscaping category - Concrete Construction Magazine
Listed as one of the top ten projects in 2005, for decorative concrete. - Illinois Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects
2006 President’s Award - Colorado Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects
2006 President’s Award - Illinois Landscape Contractor’s Association
Gold Award, 2006
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,700 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.
Media Contact: Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it