Chalet grant provides boost to Youth Services group
Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook (YSGN) received a $100,000 landscaping grant for a new building to be completed in August, 2009. The grant resulted from a contest held by Chalet Landscaping, Nursery and Garden Center of Wilmette and includes the development of a vegetable garden for children. YSGN leaders are discussing whether to give the kids vegetables to take home or work with the kids to in cooking meals as a group from ingredients grown in the garden. YSGN raised $6.5 million for the project and hopes additional fund-raising will allow the group to pay off loans early to start an endowment.
Bluestone patios and a pergola will highlight the garden outside of the new building. Nancy Bloom, director of Youth Services said, “It will provide beautiful areas where children can sit and talk with their counselors with some privacy, as well as open green areas where they can play.”
Eric Braun, a landscape designer at Chalet, said the “overwhelming community involvement… definitely outnumbered the rest [of the applicants]. It was obvious it was an integral part of the community.”
In the application to Chalet, Bloom wrote, “a garden sends a message that children are important. Having a beautiful and friendly area to play, work through important issues and learn will say you are special and we care about you.”
Braun designed the outdoor area, which is roughly 75 to 85 feet by 50 feet, with walkways leading to three patios of different sizes, which are encircled by low walls for sitting. Chalet will plant 10 canopy trees from different species such as river birch, tulip tree, gingko and red oak, to give the garden an arboretum look. The garden will also feature flowering shrubts, hydrangea, azaleas, witch hazel, spirea and other perennials. A berm will help separate the garden area from the nearby parking lot.
Did we mention the vegetable garden, too?
Learn more about YSGN on their Web site.
The original article can be read on Journal-Topics.com.
Another article with this information can be read on PioneerLocal.com.
Tags: Chalet Landcaping Nursery and Garden Center, vegetable garden, Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook