Photo Credit: Elmhurst Park District
When the Elmhurst Park District in Illinois began a $2.8-million renovation of Wilder Park Conservatory, the major challenge for the planners was blending a need for modern amenities with the desire for historical preservation.
For more than 90 years, the conservatory has served as a visual and verifiable link to the city’s history in the hearts and minds of residents. It’s where preschoolers begin a lifelong love of nature, where those same children take graduation photos on their last day of high school, and where future brides dream of having a wedding either inside the conservatory or in the surrounding gardens. Preserving places like these as touchstones for the community is often a struggle, especially when renovations and upgrades become necessary.
The conservatory and greenhouse rest on a large, sprawling parcel of parkland known as Wilder Park in central Elmhurst. The park is a gathering place for the community—the site of concerts and movies, annual Easter egg hunts, and lazy summer afternoons. The conservatory is a regional destination for horticultural study and is popular with school groups and garden clubs. Its beautiful flowers are a part of annual flower shows, and the tranquil flower garden south of the conservatory is tended by the staff throughout the year, making it a sought-after site for weddings and photographers.