Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards

The United States Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago and Chicago Wilderness developed the Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards to recognize outstanding efforts by corporations, park districts and municipalities to use native plants in the landscape or use conservation development practices within the Chicago Wilderness region.

The Chicago Wilderness region encompasses the crescent of land around southern Lake Michigan, including southeast Wisconsin, northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.

This awards program began in 2000. During the first two years of the awards program we focused on recognizing local government and park district efforts. In 2002, we expanded to include corporate efforts. In 2005, we are expanding the program to recognize development projects which bring life to the principles of conservation development.

• Why Native Landscaping?
• How Does Landscaping Affect the Environment?
• How do Land Use and Development Practices Affect the Environment?
• Who is Chicago Wilderness?
• And the winners are:
  
  

  2007 2006 2005 2004

  2003 2002 2001

  2000

Why Native Landscaping?

After European settlement, people planted gardens with plants brought from their home country. They were tiny, comfortable garden plots set in a huge wilderness. Today, however, the reverse is true. Agricultural and garden plants introduced from all over the world dominate the landscape, while native plants are managed in small preserves. In recent years, natural landscaping - using native plants and plant communities in landscaping - has become more common.

Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant, low maintenance landscape while benefiting the environment. Native plants, once established, save time and money by eliminating or significantly reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, water and lawn maintenance equipment.
 

How Does Landscaping Effect the Environment?

Maintenance practices for manicured turf landscapes negatively effects the environment.

Spending one hour mowing (gas) a lawn is equivalent to driving a car 20 miles. Based upon elimination of mowing, blowing and trimming for an acre of turf grass, there is a calculated emission reduction of about 100 lbs VOC/acre/year and 10 lbs NOx/acre/year. These emission estimates were based upon going from mowing, blowing and trimming 30 times per year to 0 times per year.

Pesticides and fertilizers applied to lawns run off and pollute surface and ground water.

Native plants have long roots which retain stormwater, reducing runoff. Planting natives increases biodiversity.

Who is Chicago Wilderness?

Chicago Wilderness is a regional nature reserve that includes more than 250,000 acres of protected natural lands. It stretches from southeastern Wisconsin, through northeastern Illinois and into northwestern Indiana. The protected lands in Chicago Wilderness are forest preserves, state parks, federal lands, county preserves, and privately owned lands. There are also many unprotected natural areas that offer refuge to native wildlife.

The Chicago Wilderness coalition is an alliance of more than 170 public and private organizations working together to protect, restore, study and manage the precious natural ecosystems of the Chicago region, enrich local residents’ quality of life, and contribute to the preservation of global biodiversity. More information is available at www.chicagowilderness.org

And the winners are:

2007 Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards
 
Winners
Arquilla Detention Naturalization
Village of Algonquin, Department of Public Works
Algonquin, IL
 
Valley Lakes Wildlife Restoration Project
Valley Lakes Homeowners Association
Round Lake, IL
 
Techny Basin
Village of Glenview, Illinois
Glenview, IL
 
Native Prairie Restorations in Skokie and Lemont
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Skokie and Lemont, IL
 
RiverPark of Geneva
Geneva, IL
 
Northerly Island
Chicago Park District
Chicago, IL
 
Tuthill Corporate Campus
Tuthill Corporation
Burr Ridge, IL
 
Grand Kankakee Marsh County Park Partnership
Lake County Parks and Recreation Department
Lake County, Indiana
 
Dunes Creek Stream Restoration
Indiana Dunes State Park
Porter County, IN
 
Settlers Ridge Conservation Development
Kimball Hill Homes
Sugar Grove, IL
 
Ingham Park Conservation Development
Kimball Hill Homes
Aurora, IL
 
HighGrove Conservation Development
Suzanne Casey
Minooka, IL
 
Certificate of Merit Winners
Chicago River "Fish Hotel"
Friends of the Chicago River
Chicago, IL
 
Renaissance Circle Native Plant Garden
Renaissance Station Homeowners Association
Willow Springs, IL
 
Certificate of Recognition
Restoration and Preservation of the 27215 Annie Glidden Road Property
Jack Pizzo
Clare, IL

2006 Winners Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards

Local Government Winners:

Beecher School District, Beecher, Illinois

• Partnership between Beecher High School, Village of Beecher, and the Washington Township Drainage District
• Transformation of Trim Creek from very steep, crumbling stream banks, invasive species, and debris to an area with beautiful native plants and stabilized slopes.  
• Restoration project along 600 feet of Trim Creek improves stormwater and provides a valuable riparian buffer.

Chicago Park District, Canal Origins Park, Chicago, Illinois

• Restoration of prairie and river edge landscapes provides wildlife habitat, reduces erosion and creates a green oasis in one of Chicago’s most dense urban areas.  
• Canal Origins Park location at the confluence of Bubbly Creek and the South Branch of the Chicago River provides valuable native habitat for migratory birds.

Inverness Park District South Park Wetlands Demonstration Garden,  Inverness, Illinois

• Transformed a drainage ditch into a beautiful rain garden and swale that filters the water for 26 acre wetlands.  
• Partnerships with the community, particularly the local garden club and environmental organization.

South Milwaukee School District

South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Ecological restoration and native landscape plan for the new South Milwaukee Middle School and High School Campus
• Meshing the formal school grounds with the surrounding restored habitat (wetlands, prairie and woodlands) and natural stormwater management system.
• Conservation and monitoring plans for the state endangered perennial bluestem goldenrod and the state threatened Butler’s garter snake.  
• Great resource for students.  

Village of Lincolnshire, North Park, Lincolnshire, Illinois

• Preserved and restored the natural areas on the park property.
• Use of native plants surrounding the storm water basin and active recreation areas.
• Provides excellent habitat and stabilizes and protects the headwaters of the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River.

Wildwood Nature Center, Park Ridge, Illinois

• Transformation of turf grass and eroded shoreline to native flowers and grasses.
• Shoreline now stabile, the goose population is 1/4 of what it was.
• Valuable migration habitat, especially for the Black Crowned Night Heron.

 
Corporate Winners:

Eco-Smart Building

• Outstanding redevelopment of a deteriorated residential brick building in a dense urban area.  
• Conservation designs for energy efficiency, stormwater management and use of native plants.
• Data on growing native plants in containers for rooftop gardens.

Meadows of Birch Lake Homeowners Assoc., Lincolnshire, Illinois

• Native plants surrounding the storm water basin.  
• Beautifully designed native plants gardens through out the residential development.
• Provides an important naturalized buffer for the 40 acre Florsheim Nature Preserve.  

Pizzo and Assoc. Corporate Campus, Leland, Illinois

• Preserved 32 acres of remnant prairie and wetland, and restored 8 acres of farm fields.
• Increased biodiversity on the property from 75 species of native plants and to 225 species.

Riverbank Neighbors, Chicago, Illinois

• Restoration of riverbanks of the Chicago River in dense Chicago neighborhood.
• 2.5 acre natural area provides excellent habitat and stabilizes and protects bank.
• Native plants in the slopes and the trail along the river introduce visitors to nature.
• Partnership with 2nd and 6th grade classes of a Chicago Public School.

Tellabs, Naperville, Illinois

• Transformation of an abandoned agricultural field into a beautiful landscape.
• Use of native prairie and woodland plants to conserve and treat stormwater.
• Naturalized bio-swales in the parking lots manages surface run-off.  
• Tellabs campus location adjacent to McDowell Grove Forest Preserve and the West Branch of the DuPage River.

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT:

• BP Naperville Campus, Illinois
• Dow Chemical Joliet Plant, Illinois
• Flint Hills Resources, LP-Joliet Facility, Illinois
• The Sanctuary of Lake Bluff , Lake Bluff , Illinois
• Town Square Condominium Association, Schaumburg, Illinois
• U.S. Steel Corporation Gary Works, Indiana
   

2005 Winners Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards
View the descriptions for these awards

• Abbott - Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid Habitat Management
• Cary Park District - Jaycee Park Renovation
• Chicago Botanic Garden - Lake and Shoreline Enhancement Program
• Chicago Department of Transportation - Chicago Park District
• ComEd - Buffalo Grove Prairie
• Harbor Springs Property Owners’ Association - Wetland Enhancement
• Illinois Department of Transportation - 63rd Street Beach Underpass
• Madison Club Homeowners Association - Wetland Restoration and Enhancement
• Motorola - Motorola Prairie Development Project
• Oakbrook Terrace Park District  - Native Plant Gardens
• St. Charles Park District - Native Plant Garden
• The Morton Arboretum - Meadow Lake
• Village of Villa Park - Villa Park Police Station

2004 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award Winners
Park District and Municipal Winners
View the description of these awards

• Chicago Park District - Humboldt Prairie River - Chicago, Illinois
• Park District of Highland Park - City of Highland Park, Hidden Creek Aqua Park Detention Basin - Highland Park, Illinois
• Village of Deer Park - Vehe Farm - Deer Park, Illinois
• Village of Glenview - Gallery Park Native Landscaping - Glenview, Illinois
• Village of Schaumburg - Yeargin Creek Improvements - Schaumburg, Illinois

2003 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award
Park District and Municipal Winners
View the descriptions of these awards
View the Honorable Mention Award Description

• Chicago Department of the Environment - Chicago Center for Green Technology - Chicago, Illinois
• Chicago Park District - Jackson Park Lagoon Rehabilitation -Chicago, Illinois
• Crystal Lake Park District - Sterne's Fen - Crystal Lake, Illinois
• Lake County Forest Preserves - Independence Grove - Libertyville, Illinois
• Village of Frankfort - Frankfort Prairie Park -Frankfort, Illinois
• Village of Park Forest - Central Park Wetland Restoration Project - Park Forest, Illinois
• Village of Vernon Hills - Vernon Hills Village Hall Complex - Vernon Hills, Illinois

2003 Corporate Winners

• Butterprint Farm - Butterprint Farm Rural Wildlife Preservation - Monee, Illinois
• Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy - Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve - Chesterton, Indiana
• Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory - Fermilab Main Injector Mitigation Project - Batavia, Illinois
• Fuller Park Community Development - Eden Place Nature Center - Chicago, Illinois
• Prairie Sun Consultants - Prairie Sun - Naperville, Illinois
• Sears, Roebuck and Co. - ConopCo Realty & Development, Inc., Sears Prairie Stone, -Hoffman Estates, IL

2002 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award
Park District and Municipal Winners
View the description of these awards

• Chicago Park District - South Shore Nature Sanctuary - Chicago, Illinois
• Crystal Lake Park District - Acres Pond Restoration - Crystal Lake, Illinois
• Elmhurst Park District - Elmhurst Great Western Prairie - Elmhurst, Illinois
• Forest Preserve District of Will County - Plum Creek Nature Center - Beecher, Illinois
• Wayne Park Commission-Village of Wayne - Prairie Garden Park - Wayne, Illinois
• Westmont Park District - Ty Warner Park - Westmont, Illinois
• Wheeling Park District - Husky Park - Wheeling, Illinois

2002 Corporate Winners
(First year awards were expanded to include corporations.)

• American NTN Bearing Manufacturing Corporation - Prairie Restoration - Elgin, Illinois
• Underwriters Laboratories Inc. - Northbrook Prairie Restoration Project - Northbrook, Illinois

2001 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award
Park District and Municipal Winners
View the description of these awards

• Batavia Park District - Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners Wildflower Sanctuary on the Batavia Riverwalk - Batavia, Illinois
• Geneva Park District - Peck Farm Park - Geneva, Illinois
• Portage Department of Parks and Recreation - Woodland Park Savannah Restoration - Portage, Indiana
• Spring Brook Nature Center - Itasca, Illinois
• Village of Antioch - William E. Brook Memorial Wetland Sanctuary & Entertainment Center - Antioch, Illinois
• Village of Elburn - Prairie Park, Elburn, Illinois
• Village of Riverside - Des Plaines Riverbank Restoration Project - Riverside, Illinois
• Westmont Park District - Twin Lakes Woods - Westmont, Illinois

2000 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award
Park District and Municipal Winners
View the description of these awards

• Chicago Department of Environment - North Park Village Nature Center Native Plant Garden - Chicago, Illinois
• City of Crystal Lake - Crystal Cove Pond Wetland Restoration - Crystal Lake, Illinois
• Roselle Public Works - Central Avenue Wetland - Roselle, Illinois
• St. Charles Park District - Campton Hills Natural Area - St. Charles, Illinois
• Village of Sugar Grove - Sugar Grove Detention Basin Prairie - Sugar Grove, Illinois

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