Campaign for the new Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago
Help us unlock $250,000 and meet the challenge! Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar - all thanks to an anonymous matching grant.

RAISED
$145,966.16
DAYS LEFT
128
GOAL
$250,000.00

GIVE NOW

THEIR NATURE. OUR FUTURE.

Year-round
indoor play space 

Free 
no admission fee

Accessible
wheel-chair accessible & dedicated space for visitors
with sensory processing disorders 

 

 

 

We are creating a place that is changing the way we use nature to inspire and engage children.

 

It's the extraordinary new Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden at the Garfield Park Conservatory - an immersive space of natural wonder where children can elevate their expectations, explore their possibilities and discover their future.

The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance is raising funds to completely renovate the 6,000 square-foot indoor children’s garden. The new garden and playscape will provide a free, year-round, accessible adventure for Garfield Park and Chicago families. A wheel-chair accessible spiral ramp makes its way up to the top of the historic glass roof, with a one-of-a-kind climber, specially designed for the Conservatory. Help us build this state of the art, accessible, free, indoor year-round nature play experience in Garfield Park. 

As of November 28 2022, we have raised $6,290,381 in support of the new EMG Children’s Garden at the Garfield Park Conservatory, surpassing our pre-pandemic goal of $5.6 million.  We are grateful to the many donors who have already committed their support to this important project. Unfortunately, construction costs have exceeded the pre-pandemic project budget due to many factors, including the increased demand in the construction industry and supply chain issues.  We are currently evaluating construction bids and will continue to fundraise in order to break ground as soon as possible, potentially in Spring of 2023. 

Help us unlock $250,000 and meet the challenge!

All gifts received by August 7, 2023 to the EMG Children's Garden will be matched dollar for dollar - all thanks to an anonymous matching grant!

Join Us. You can be part of this transformational new Children’s Garden and help grow the next generation of champions of the natural world.


For recognition opportunities, please contact Jennifer Van Valkenburg, President & CEO, at  773-638-1766 ext. 12 or [email protected]

If you are interested in utilizing an installment plan to make your gift over 1-3 years please contact Marie Stringer, Director of Development, at [email protected] or call 773-638-1766 x 22.  Click here for pledge form.   

Checks can be sent to:

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
ATTN: Development Office
300 N. Central Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624

 

A Vision Grows at Garfield Park Conservatory

The New Children's Garden Tells The Story

Video
Watch and learn about why this garden matters

Room Layout

See some of the key features 

Walk-through Video
See the new design
Brochure
Read more

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Billing

Honour Roll

$100.00

Kaleen Healey
Mar 24, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Anonymous
Mar 24, 2023
Illinois, US

$20.00

Melissa Meredith
Mar 23, 2023
Texas, US

$20.00

Bruce Klink
Mar 19, 2023
Illinois, US

$50.00

alma torres
Mar 17, 2023
California, US

$25.00

Melody Reels
Mar 15, 2023
Iowa, US

$50.00

Samantha Deuchler
Mar 14, 2023
Illinois, US

$20.00

Anonymous
Mar 13, 2023
Illinois, US

$20.00

Anonymous
Mar 12, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Anonymous
Mar 12, 2023
Illinois, US

$20.00

Todd Nadenichek
Mar 11, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Anonymous
Mar 5, 2023
Illinois, US

$20.00

Anonymous
Feb 27, 2023
Illinois, US

$250.00

Jennifer Stanovich
Feb 23, 2023
Illinois, US

$20.00

Anonymous
Feb 22, 2023
Massachusetts, US

$25.00

Jaquelin Lynn
Feb 20, 2023
Illinois, US

$25.00

Anonymous
Feb 19, 2023
Illinois, US

“Spent years at play parks like this with my 4 daughters. Paying it forward.”

$30.00

mary carlson
Feb 19, 2023
Illinois, US

$10.00

ashley remegi
Feb 12, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Cheryl Johns
Feb 9, 2023
Illinois, US

$25.00

Janet Brown
Feb 6, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Stephanie Thompson
Feb 5, 2023
Illinois, US

$500.00

Benjamin Ilhardt
Feb 4, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Mia Lansford
Feb 3, 2023
Illinois, US

$10.00

Anonymous
Jan 29, 2023
Illinois, US

$50.00

Elizabeth Hereford
Jan 21, 2023
Illinois, US

$250.00

Ken Davis
Jan 18, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Emily Hathcoat
Jan 14, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Beth Vlerick
Jan 10, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

M Pilar Charmoli
Jan 8, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Carol Jean, Brown
Jan 6, 2023
Illinois, US

“The Garfield Park Conservatory Children’s Garden has been a favorite of ours. We look forward to enjoying it for years to come.”

$100.00

Mary Gorman
Jan 5, 2023
Illinois, US

“Going to the Garfield Park Conservatory has been part of our family memories for three generations and will be for many more!”

$100.00

Alison Glickman
Jan 5, 2023
Illinois, US

$50.00

Valerie Herr
Jan 5, 2023
California, US

$40.00

Ellen Schubert
Jan 1, 2023
Illinois, US

$100.00

Joan Pomaranc
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Anonymous
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Jim Beckwith
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$50.00

Carolyn Murray
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

“The Conservatory is such a gem, never demanding entrance fees, keeping it accessible to all. Always a place of restoration and contemplation, I am so happy to see the fun return in what I'm sure will be a spectacular children's garden. Happy New Year GPC and everyone!”

$250.00

Djana Martin
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Deborah Becker
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Mary Jean Kraybill
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$25.00

Anonymous
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$50.00

Karen Daniels
Dec 31, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Barbara VanScoyoc
Dec 31, 2022
Massachusetts, US

$500.00

Dwayne Corcoran
Dec 30, 2022
California, US

$250.00

Mark Richman
Dec 30, 2022
Illinois, US

$25.00

Betsy Johnston
Dec 30, 2022
Illinois, US

“My mother grew up on the West Side in the 1920s. She loved Garfield Park. I am grateful that it continues to provide joy for multiple generations of children.”

$50.00

Leslie Simon
Dec 29, 2022
California, US

$500.00

Anonymous
Dec 28, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Lacey Cordero
Dec 28, 2022
Illinois, US

$40.00

Kevin McDonald
Dec 28, 2022
Michigan, US

$75.00

Sherri Kovar
Dec 26, 2022
New Jersey, US

$100.00

Daniel Duan
Dec 25, 2022
Illinois, US

$50.00

Al De Reu
Dec 24, 2022
Illinois, US

$250.00

Matthew Adams
Dec 23, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

richard Prinz
Dec 23, 2022
Illinois, US

$250.00

Adam Stein
Dec 21, 2022
Illinois, US

$20.00

Cori blum
Dec 21, 2022
Illinois, US

$50.00

Anonymous
Dec 19, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Ada Bleecker
Dec 19, 2022
Illinois, US

$25.00

shelby daniel-wayman
Dec 18, 2022
Illinois, US

$50.00

Andrea Schmitz
Dec 18, 2022
Illinois, US

$250.00

Adena Rose
Dec 10, 2022
Illinois, US

$500.00

Barbara Huyler
Dec 8, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Doretta Marwin
Dec 7, 2022
Illinois, US

$25.00

Anonymous
Dec 5, 2022
Illinois, US

$50.00

Karen Shimmin
Dec 4, 2022
Illinois, US

$20.00

Ashley Holman
Dec 3, 2022
Illinois, US

$20.00

Dave Gucciardi
Dec 2, 2022
Illinois, US

$10.00

Jennifer Schumacher
Dec 1, 2022
Ohio, US

$100.00

Alexander Mailhot-Beutel
Nov 30, 2022
Illinois, US

$50.00

Kat Crawford
Nov 30, 2022
Illinois, US

$100.00

Kathleen Fieweger
Nov 30, 2022
Illinois, US

“He loved working there! and my children loved going to the original Children's Garden when they were little.”

$50.00

Ellen M Shwatal
Nov 29, 2022
Illinois, US

$150.00

Renee Roeschley
Nov 29, 2022
Illinois, US

$10.00

Rebecca Willard
Nov 29, 2022
Illinois, US

$10.00

Denice Hizel
Nov 29, 2022
Illinois, US

$30.00

Fasukuwa Kamanda
Nov 29, 2022
Maryland, US

$50.00

Tonya Brooks
Nov 29, 2022
Illinois, US

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