New walkway makes York gardens more accessible

Elmhurst's York High School recently installed a concrete sidewalk compliant with American Disabilities Act guidelines in the courtyard outside the academic building.

Building manager Jerry Christopherson worked with the school's administration to complete the work while students and faculty were on spring break.

Members of York Garden Club, its sponsors and Elmhurst Garden Club mentors collected enough money to pay the school for the installation, which completes the design plan created four years ago by Lisa Peterson, a garden club member who also serves as a mentor to the York Garden Club. She is the owner of Botanic Designs.

The District 205 Foundation also contributed to the project, which has been vital in planting York Garden Club's growing spaces. It was the District 205 Foundation that provided "seed capital" to build the first raised beds and instructional gardens built at York in 2014 and 2015.

York faculty members Andrew Bendelow, Lauren Yun and Ronny Rayan are the club's sponsors. Norma Farrell and Jan Foster, along with Peterson, were original mentors. In the recent past they have been joined by Laurie Loresch, Julia Lamb and Jill Johnston.

The mission of York Garden Club is to create engaging educational experiences for students of all abilities; to integrate students, staff and community groups in growing projects; to grow produce for school food service, consumer sciences and local food pantries; to learn square-foot and other efficient garden methods; to grow native, ornamental and sensory plants; and to design gardens that are sustainable, maintainable and, in the long-term, profitable.

The three established gardens of York Community High School were on Elmhurst Garden Club's Garden Walk in 2017. The gardens were constructed through an award by Whole Kids Foundation and a company-sponsored work day by PT Holdings, Inc. of Addison.

"We look forward to the gardens being accessible to all students and staff members. We hope the space will be able to be used for rest and solitude, as well as an outdoor classroom," Jan Foster said.

Anyone interested in seeing the gardens may contact Andrew Bendelow at abendelow@elmhurst205.org.