Garfield
Park is located on the west side of the Chicago neighborhoods
and is a mix of greenery and city life. Since the 1950's a complex of
hospitals, two expressways and the University of Illinois at Chicago have
encroached on the area, but the greatness of this Chicago neighborhood
lies in its foliage. Garfield Park's namesake park, all
180+ acres of it, was designed by world-renowned landscape architect Jens
Jensen. Both the
park and lagoon are located just north of the Eisenhower Expressway between
Trumbull and Washington.
The Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave) is
the neighborhood's claim to fame,
offering a free trip for those in need of some 4.5 acres of botanical wonder.
It was opened in 1908, contains exotic plants, flowers, cacti, and trees, and
is known as one of the world's largest enclosed gardens.
Each year the Chicago Parks District features five flower shows at the Lincoln
Park and Garfield Park Conservatories. The
Discovery Area provides entertainment for children with green thumbs.
You can also get your Blues fix at Bossman Blues Center (3500 W. Lake St.)
On the El, take the Harlem/Lake Branch of the Green Line west to Conservatory-Central
Park Dr.
