Oak Park Conservatory
Continued investment in our parks and facilities is critical to the District’s mission. The Park Board’s policy states that each park site plan will be revisited and updated within a 10-year period. The Park District is in the process of revisiting each park site plan per this policy in order to identify additional park amenities desired by our residents, to budget strategically for these improvements and to be prepared for grant opportunities.
If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on park plans currently in progress, please contact Bill Hamilton, Superintendent of Parks & Planning. (opens email app)
Current Plan
Past Plans
The Conservatory began as a community effort in 1914, to provide a place to house exotic plants that residents collected during their travels abroad. The present Edwardian-style glass structure, built in 1929, houses a botanical collection of more than 3,000 plants, some of which date back to the Conservatory’s founding. Over the years, the building fell into neglect. In 1970, a drive to preserve this unique resource began. In 1986, the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON) was incorporated to provide fundraising, educational programs, and other volunteer supports. In June of 2000, the Conservatory Center addition was opened to provide expanded space and facilities for educational programming, operations and public events. In 2004, the Oak Park Conservatory was designated an Oak Park Landmark, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
In 2002, a major lead abatement project was completed in the Fern Room with the assistance of grants from the FOPCON and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Museum Grant Program. In 2006 and 2007, lead abatement was accomplished in the Desert Room and the East Growing House. Additional upgrades were made to the East Growing House to improve growing conditions including: new mechanical vent controls, a modern heating system, a retractable shade device, environmental controls, and new rolling benches for more efficient use of growing space. FOPCON provided $12,000 in grant funds to towards the cost of the shade device. Glazing work in the historical entrance was also completed. A back-up generator was installed in 2007. Exterior doors were replaced in March 2008. Improvements, similar to those in the East Growing House, were completed for the West Growing House in 2009. Improvements to the Tropical House, including lead abatement and other upgrades were completed in 2011.
A site master plan for the Conservatory site was completed in 2009 and updated in 2017. Initial site master plan improvements were completed in 2011, with construction of a new outdoor garden, named in memory of Herbert M. Rubinstein, a long-time Conservatory supporter and volunteer. Significant donations were received from the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory, private donors, and the Rubinstein family to fund the garden project. In 2012, the boiler system at the Conservatory was completely replaced and the dryvit walls were repaired. In 2013, the window in the tropical room were repaired to provide a proper seal. Improvements to the Garfield entrance including a new nature playground area named Elsie Jacobson, a founder of the Friends. This work was funded heavily by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory totaling
$210,000. Also in 2015, the north base walls of the Conservatory were redone as well as the main entrance to the Conservatory. In 2016, ventilation and heating system upgrades to the Fern and Desert Rooms were completed as well as environmental automation control upgrades for the all greenhouses. In 2018-2019, the Conservatory had solar and water harvesting systems added with a $100,000 grant from Green Mountain Sun Energy. In 2024 the District made repairs to the northside vestibule, the discovery garden fence, and the vents in the desert room.
