Hawthorn Woods dedicates Meadowlark Park and Arboretum

Posted October 19, 2021 11:00 pm

Submitted by the village of Hawthorn Woods

The recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for Meadowlark Park and Arboretum took place in the Community Room at the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center. Courtesy of the village of Hawthorn Woods

Hawthorn Woods dedicates Meadowlark Park and Arboretum

Hawthorn Woods Mayor Dominick DiMaggio and the Village Board of Trustees announced the grand opening dedication ceremony of the Meadowlark Park and Arboretum, which took place at 4 p.m. Oct. 11.

Those in attendance included Laura Kunkle, executive director of America in Bloom; Dr. Marvin Miller, treasurer of America in Bloom/CN EcoConnexions representative; Frances Kane, associate program officer for the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation; Cassie Slattery, program assistant for the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation; Hawthorn Woods Mayor Dominick DiMaggio; former Hawthorn Woods Mayor Joseph Mancino; the Hawthorn Woods Village Board of Trustees; village staff; community members; and various park vendors.

Due to inclement weather, the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in the Community Room at the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center.

The park is at 188 Meadowlark Drive, Hawthorn Woods, at the entrance of the Lake Lorraine Estates subdivision on the northeast corner of West Schwerman Road and Meadowlark Drive.

Meadowlark Park and Arboretum is a new 3.5-acre park site featuring an interactive playground comprising five interactive, ADA-compliant play pods that depict the historical land use of Hawthorn Woods in a Legacy of the Land Tour.

This tour includes a Glacial Deposit Outdoor Classroom, Wetland Habitat Play Area, Woodland Forest Play Pod, Honoring Our Agricultural Heritage Picnic Grove, and the Industrial Modernization Gravity Glide.

Meadowlark Park and Arboretum also includes a diverse treescape designed in conjunction with the Morton Arboretum, a 2.5-acre sustainable pollinator meadow habitat, walking trail, a rustic style "Little Library" donated by the Rotary Club of Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Long Grove, educational signage, along with picnic tables and park benches throughout.

The park is open year-round, between sunrise and sunset, and is accessible to all mobilities.

The dedication ceremony marked the completion of a 5-year park design and implementation process. Funding and guidance were provided by the following organizations: Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development; Morton Arboretum; America in Bloom/Canadian National Railway; Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation; Chicago Regional Tree Initiative; and the Rotary Club of Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer and Long Grove.

For more information about the village of Hawthorn Woods, visit www.vhw.org.

The Woodland Forest Play Pod at Meadowlark Park in Hawthorn Woods. The other interactive play pods at the park include the Glacial Deposit Outdoor Classroom, Wetland Habitat Play Area, Honoring Our Agricultural Heritage Picnic Grove and Industrial Modernization Gravity Glide. Courtesy of the village of Hawthorn Woods

The new Meadowlark Park and Arboretum in Hawthorn Woods includes a 2.5-acre pollinator meadow, as well as a diverse treescape, a walking trail, a Little Library, and more. Courtesy of the village of Hawthorn Woods

The village of Hawthorn Woods held a grand opening dedication ceremony of the Meadowlark Park and Arboretum on Oct. 11. Courtesy of the village of Hawthorn Woods

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