Working together on the Richmond Education Garden, the villages of Westmont and Clarendon Hills were recently graced with a $10,000 grant from ComEd (Commonwealth Edison), bringing current total support for the project to more than $60,000.
Located along a public thoroughfare between the Clarendon Hills public works site and the Downers Grove Township Highway garage, the project’s goal will be to provide an educational habitat conveying information about natural and organic gardening to residents. The garden aims to promote community ownership, localization, empowerment, sustainable landscaping and similar values.
When complete, an apiary will provide the centerpiece amid a variety of plots — ranging from native vegetable and wildflower patches to butterfly, wall and rain gardens. Clarendon Hills’ economic development director Dan Ungerleider said the goals is to create enthusiasm along with heightened environmental awareness, promoting resident involvement.
A fundraising event is slated for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 300 E. Ogden in Westmont. The restaurant will donate 50 percent of the proceeds to the garden and apiary project. Residents can also support the initiative by purchasing specially made products on www.zazzle.com.
“We’re excited about the developing curriculum for the project,” Westmont Environmental Improvement Commissioner Erin Kennedy said. “We already have some momentum from AP students at Hinsdale High School as well as a recent project completed by a local Eagle Scout.”
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