Issue link: https://pdop.uberflip.com/i/645981
5 www.pdop.org Park Renewal Projects Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center e construction of the Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center (EEC) is on course for completion in June 2016. e Park District's very popular ECO– Junior Rangers Camp and ECO-Rangers Camp are being relocated from the Oak Park Conservatory to this new facility to utilize the many new features available. is Platinum LEED-designed facility will be a showcase for sustainable design featuring a geo-thermal system, solar panels, a green roof, storm water harvesting, bioswales, and an energy efficient building envelope and mechanical systems. Mark your calendar for grand opening festivities scheduled for Saturday, June 11. More details will be available in the summer program guide. Accepting our awards were Patti Staley, Director of Horticulture; Poppy Vogel, Cheney Mansion Operations Supervisor; Paul Aeschleman, Park District Board President; Chris Lindgren, Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds; Don McKay, Nagle Hartray Architects, and Jan Arnold, Park District Executive Director. Park District Recognized for Preservation and Sustainability Efforts e Park District received a 2015 Historic Preservation Award for the rehabilitation and adaptive use of the Cheney Mansion Greenhouse at an award ceremony held on Wednesday, December 9 at the 19th Century Club. e Park District was also recognized with two Green Awards, one for the recently completed Oak Park Conservatory Bioswale Project and the second for our cooperative efforts with the Village of Oak Park to earn Arboretum status for the Oak Park community. ese awards were presented by the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission, the Environment & Energy Commission and the Oak Park Community Design Commission. Grand Opening of the All-Weather Fields at Julian and Brooks Middle Schools Join us on Saturday, April 9 for the grand opening of the all-weather fields at Julian and Brooks Middle Schools. We will celebrate the grand opening along with opening day for AYSO at 9am at Julian Middle School. At 10:30am we will officially open the Brooks Middle School Field in between Oak Park Youth Baseball games. is project was a community collaboration funded by a partnership between the Park District and District 97 along with the Good Heart Work Smart Foundation, AYSO, Chicago Edge Soccer and Oak Park Youth Baseball/Soball Association. e fields will be used by students on school days during school hours and will be scheduled for use by our sports affiliates during various other days and times. However, they are open to the public when they are not scheduled for programmed activities. Cheney Mansion Site Plan Community Meeting e Cheney Mansion site plan will be reviewed at a community meeting on Tuesday, June 11 at 7pm at Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid Avenue. We welcome all to attend this meeting and provide your input about the future of the grounds around Cheney Mansion that are open to the public year round unless a private function is taking place. e current master plan was completed in 2009 and since that time, the Cheney Greenhouse was restored, a path was created to improve access to the first floor and to create access from the front to the back patio of the home. A former neighbor of Cheney Manor also made a generous donation in order to restore the Woodland Waterfall Garden located in the southeast corner of the grounds. Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 11. Construction of the Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center, January 6, 2016. Brooks Middle School Julian Middle School