Friends of Sears Sunken Garden

05/15/2026

Highly recommend. Roy is working with Pier Oudolf planning a restored Sears Sunken Garden.

Grab your ticket today!
May 16th, join our co-owner for the first talk of the season here at Northwind!

We’ve had this phrase around for a while, ‘Right Plant, Right Place’. What’s been missing is adding ‘Right Relationships’ into the equation.

And that’s not meant the relationships people would like the plants to live in but the placement of individual plants together that creates healthy lifestyles for the plant community.

Head to the following link to grab a ticket (pay what you can!)

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLT7NJJ8Y1NAZ/checkout/HNTM2FR2AQ7APJZRC7EJXAXR

05/14/2026

Construction Update:

We are excited that restoration work on the pergola has begun. The two roof systems have been fully repaired with all damaged rafters, decking, underlayment, and tiles replaced. The final layout of the new lighting fixtures and coating color scheme has been determined. All of the columns at the east and west ends of the pergola have been stripped of existing coating, evaluated, and patched as necessary.

However, the evaluation process for the center 12 columns revealed that they are not in the same condition as those on the ends, and that we’ll have to determine the best way to proceed.

While we do that, there will be a pause in active construction on the site, and the pergola will remain fenced and closed to the public. Please contact [email protected] with any questions you might have.

04/17/2026

Restoration starts on pergola at North Lawndale’s historic Sears garden - Chicago Sun-Times

04/17/2026

Restoration starts on pergola at North Lawndale’s historic Sears garden - Chicago Sun-Times https://share.google/jifOIfKAWm0fXyCkX

04/17/2026

Today's the day! Five years in planning and finally we're up and moving.

Thank you North Lawndale community for your support.

04/15/2026

Thank you Caroline O'Boyle for investing in and fighting for public land.

Welcome to our annual Day on the Hill! This week, TPL advocates traveled to Washington, D.C. from across the nation with one goal: to urge Congress to keep public lands fully funded and accessible to all.

Your voice makes our message even clearer in our meetings with members of Congress. Take a stand for the places that make us happiest outside!

Tell lawmakers to protect critical conservation programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Legacy Restoration Fund to keep our public lands accessible to all.

🗣️: https://t4pl.org/4cwEiPv

04/15/2026

Thank you Block Club Chicago!

The garden, once part of Sears, Roebuck and Co.’s sprawling West Side campus, will be closed for the duration of the work. The first step will be repairing the historical pergola.

04/10/2026

Restoration of Historic Pergola
in Sears Sunken Garden to Begin April 17

After five years of community input and planning, work on the historic Sears Sunken Garden in North Lawndale will begin with restoration of the pergola on Friday, April 17.

Completed in 1907 by Nimmons & Fellows, early 20th century experts in industrial and architectural design, the neoclassical pergola stands as the centerpiece of the garden, with its Doric columns, temple pavilions and red-clay tile roof. When complete, the pergola will feature new lighting, restored columns, a repaired roof, replaced wooden beams, and fresh paint.

“We are honored to finally break ground on this historic project,” said Reshorna Fitzpatrick, Board Chair of the Friends of Sears Sunken Garden and Executive Pastor of Stone Temple Baptist Church. “This moment reflects the power of community—neighbors, partners, and leaders coming together with a shared vision. The Sears Sunken Garden will become a beautiful, welcoming space that serves residents and visitors for generations to come.”

The pergola restoration is managed by Arda Architecture, leaders in Chicago building preservation with consteuction by Terra Engineering. The pergola work is expected to be complete by mid-July, and will be followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The garden will be closed to the public while the renovation is underway. Safety fencing will be installed along the southern border of the garden. In addition, construction crews will park on Arthington, and a small portion of curb on the north side of the street will be used to stage construction materials. Construction hours will be from 7am-3pm but in compliance with the City’s ordinance, noise-generating work will not begin until 8am.

Following the pergola project, garden restoration will begin, led by world-renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf, and plantsman and designer Roy Diblik. Oudolf is well known as the planting designer for the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park and the High Line in New York City.

The restoration project is being led by Friends of Sears Sunken Garden, which is comprised of people who live and work in North Lawndale and features partnerships with Foundation for Homan Square, Homan Grown, Stone Temple Baptist Church, and Trust for Public Land. Funding for the restoration comes from generous support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.