Issue link: https://pdop.uberflip.com/i/470638
PARK RENEWAL PROJECTS 5 Barrie Park Site Plan Join us on March 11 and April 22 for the second and third community meetings for the Barrie Park and Center site planning process. The Park District needs your input to plan future improvements to this 4.2 acre site. Both community meetings will be held at Barrie Center, 1011 S. Lombard Street at 7pm. Look for more details at pdop.org. Elsie Jacobsen Discovery Garden - Thank You FOPCON! Thank you to the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory for their generous contribution of $100,000 towards the Elsie Jacobsen Discovery Garden. The Friends have committed $210,000 total towards the creation of this unique garden to be located on the east side of the Conservatory which will feature green space that invites both children and adults to observe, touch and interact with nature in all seasons. Look for the garden to open in July 2015. Lindberg Park Grand Opening on Saturday, April 11 Please join the Park District as we celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated Lindberg Park on Saturday, April 11 at 10am under the new picnic shelter. In addition to light refreshments and giveaways, there will be plenty of time to stroll through the park and view the many park improvements including the renovated tennis courts, new looped walking path system, new playground, renovated ball fields, and new sports field solely for soccer and lacrosse. FYI: The Park District accepts reservations for its three picnic shelters located at Field, Taylor and Lindberg Parks and for the picnic patio located at Taylor Park. For details and forms please visit www. pdop.org. A u s t i n G a r d e n s - E N V I R O N M E N T A L E D U C A T I O N C E N T E R EXTERIOR VIEW Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center With the help of a $400,000 grant from the IL Dept. of Natural Resources, the Park District is renovating Austin Gardens and constructing the Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center (EEC) in the southeast corner of the park. In addition to the Environmental Education Center, park improvements will include: • A Learning Garden outdoor classroom space for children of all ages to sample, observe and test new ideas and learn about living with nature • Enhanced Forest Avenue entry • Connection to the new Lake Street alley • New terrace at the main west entry to the EEC that can support special events and provide seating for park participants • Connection to washrooms within the building • Bike parking at both entries • Permeable paving [that allows absorption of rainfall into the soil] • ADA accessibility throughout the EEC and the park The following high performance and innovative sustainable design elements in the building and the landscape will serve as examples for homeowners who can incorporate these features into their own homes: • A Geo-thermal system which uses the earth's energy for heating, air conditioning and comfort control in the EEC • A Photovoltaic array on the roof which uses the sun's energy to supply the projected electricity needs of the building • A Greenroof which absorbs rainfall, reduces heat loads, and gives carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere • Storm water harvesting through a cistern and diversion for toilet flushing • Raingarden/bioswales to absorb the cistern overflow and the excess rain run-off as a feature in the garden • Energy efficient building envelope and mechanical systems The Environmental Education Center is designed to be LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum certified. Grant funding has been secured to offset the cost of the photovoltaic array, the geo-thermal system, and the LEED commissioning. Construction is expected to begin in April with completion in November. For more details visit www.pdop.org.