GreenMark Public Relations®, Inc.

Public/private partnerships support organization’s goal of planting 15,000 trees by 2015This summer, Chicago Gateway Green and its partners are maintaining one dozen lush and colorful new gardens, totaling 2.5 acres, along the new-and-improved Dan Ryan Expressway. The organization’s goal is to plant 15,000 trees along Chicago expressways and throughout the city by 2015.

The Dan Ryan Expressway is an example of how a collaborative green movement is turning areas that are vulnerable to poor air quality, litter and lack of greenery into colorful, blooming, well-tended gardens and tree canopies. The major expressway improvement project is an investment of time and resources by Chicago Gateway Green, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), City of Chicago and numerous corporations and local businesses.

Expressway gardens are individually marked with the non-profit organization’s iconic leaf symbol and partner logos. Planted in 2008 and 2009, this is the first, full blooming season for the Dan Ryan rainbow-themed gardens. They are teeming with numerous trees, including Kentucky Coffee Tree, Swamp White Oak and Japanese Tree Lilacs., complemented by double knockout roses, liatris, catmint and prairie dropseed. Gardens are distinct according to a dominant color theme for each gateway, from the yellow daylilies and sumac at 63rd Street Gateway, to the blue and purple salvias at 47th Street.

The self-irrigating gardens are a true collaboration between Chicago Gateway Green, leading corporations, sports teams and local businesses, as well as IDOT, CDOT and the city. Current Dan Ryan Expressway Partners include Allstate Insurance Company, Chicago White Sox, Illinois Institute of Technology, PLS and Solo Cup.

“The Dan Ryan gardens are a showpiece for what these types of partnerships can accomplish,” said Gerald Roper, chairman, Chicago Gateway Green. “Travelers and commuters enjoy beautiful scenery and the gardens enhance the environment by transforming areas with poor air quality and smog into lush greenery. Chicago’s expressway gardens illustrate our belief that beauty and sustainability go hand in hand to improve quality of life for millions of Chicagoans and its visitors.”

Chicago Gateway Green, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2011, also maintains more than 100 expressway gardens along the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Stevenson. Partners on those expressways include the Chicago Blackhawks, Bears, Cubs and Fire; and local businesses Vienna Beef, Horseshoe Casino and 900 N. Michigan Shops. For a full list of Chicago Gateway Green Expressway Program partners, please visit the Web site at www.gatewaygreen.org.

Two additional Chicago Gateway Green programs also rely on strong partnerships. The organization’s International Sculpture Exchange Program enhances expressway landscapes through placement of permanent, large-scale public art from 25 global sister cities. Its Tree Partnership Program weaves like a green ribbon through Chicago’s neighborhoods. Tree partnerships with organizations, companies and individuals green and beautify gardens on neighborhood parkways and on land that is vacant or vulnerable to poor environmental conditions.

Through its work to combine sustainability with beauty, Chicago Gateway Green has earned support from prominent individuals and organizations. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is honorary co-chairman of Chicago Gateway Green and this spring, reporter/anchor and active philanthropist Bill Kurtis was named honorary spokesperson. The organization’s officers and board of directors include Chicago leaders in business, industry, charity and the arts.

“Now more than ever, beautification efforts in Chicago are needed to restore and ensure the natural beauty of our city and improve the quality of air, land and ultimately the quality of living,” Roper said. “For nearly 25 years, Chicago Gateway Green has been a constant in the greening of Chicago, and our commitment continues as we work toward a collective vision of an urban garden.”

In addition to support for its Expressway Garden Program, donations are needed for plants and planting materials, and volunteers are necessary to help with Chicago Gateway Green’s tree planting and maintenance activities. Companies, businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to call 312-540-9930 or visit www.gatewaygreen.org to learn how they can help keep Chicago growing green and beautiful.

Multi-use turf fields will serve recreation needs of residents, community sports

With the groundbreaking today at Nike Sports Complex, the Naperville Park District begins development of the long-anticipated 20-acre expansion, bounded by Mill Street, and Diehl and Bauer Roads.

“This is a great boost to the sports life of every child from Naperville and the surrounding communities,” said Mayor A. George Pradel during Tuesday’s event.
When the addition opens next spring, the expanded site will include the District’s first premier lighted artificial and multi-use turf fields for soccer, football, lacrosse and cricket. It will be used by residents of all ages for Park District programs, including community youth and local athletic organizations. Organized sports teams especially have been desperate for play field space on the north side of town.

“It’s great that we have this field space on the north side of town,” said Brett Strang, director of coaching and executive director of the Galaxy Soccer Club, which represents 550 youths on 40 teams in the community. “The lighted game fields will be very helpful, especially in the fall season.”

Several thousand people use the existing Nike Sports Complex every year for organized play and recreation. In addition to more turf fields, the expansion will include courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball, as well as a playground, and walking and bicycle trails. A park support building will include a picnic pavilion, restrooms, and storage. New trees will be installed throughout the project, including along a landscaped berm on the south and east perimeters.

Land adjacent to the existing Nike Sports Complex was purchased in 2007 because of its ideal acreage. It also is easily accessible and contiguous with the existing sports complex. The property was annexed into the City of Naperville after approval by City Council in April.

The expansion is based on resident feedback, as well as recommendations contained in the Naperville Park District’s Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. In addition to the landscaped berm, the master plan includes entry into the new area from Mill Street and a dry bottom detention pond to assist in collecting storm water runoff. Opening of the expanded facility is expected in early spring 2011.

The Naperville Park District is home to 139 parks totaling more than 2,500 acres. Parks appeal to a wide variety of interests and needs, including for environmental stewardship, conservation and education, as well as recreation, sport and fitness, gardening, and river and trail walks.

For more information on the Nike Sports Complex expansion, including the master plan, background information and frequent updates, please visit online at www.napervilleparks.org.

Respected Journalist, Philanthropist and Rancher Shares Vision for Greening ChicagoHe has been in the trenches of America’s biggest news stories and feels at home on the cattle-grazing grasslands of Kansas. Now, legendary newsman Bill Kurtis is working with Chicago Gateway Green to increase the tree canopy and create blankets of gardens across Chicago.

Kurtis is serving as spokesperson for Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit organization dedicated to greening and beautifying the city by planting trees and gardens along its expressways, gateways, and neighborhoods. The organization marks its 25th anniversary in 2011 and is working towards a goal of planting 15,000 trees throughout Chicago by 2015.

In addition to ensuring the legacy of trees and gardens throughout Chicago by participating various fundraising initiatives and special events, Kurtis will support tree plantings with volunteers and key partners, ranging from United Airlines to the Chicago Blackhawks. Other upcoming events include the annual Green Tie Ball, held in the fall, and Gaming for Green, on Aug. 5. Through these and other efforts, Chicago Gateway Green is helping meet the goals of Mayor Daley’s Chicago Climate Action Plan, aimed at doubling Chicago’s tree canopy by 2040 and creating a greener, healthier and more vibrant city.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bill on board,” says Gerald J. Roper, chairman, Chicago Gateway Green. “To have this fantastic role model of integrity and sustainability kindly agree to serve as the face of Chicago Gateway Green will truly make a difference as we work together to make Chicago an even more beautiful place to live and visit.”

Kurtis is especially familiar with the importance of thinking globally and acting locally, Roper says, through his own Tallgrass Beef Company (www.tallgrassbeef.com), service to countless green causes and events, and his Emmy Award-winning work as a one of the country’s most respected journalists.

“It’s great to have the support of a man who is as deeply rooted in Chicago and who shares Chicago Gateway Green’s long-held vision of the vital beauty and greenness of trees and gardens all over our city. We are especially excited to have his support to reach our goal of 15,000 trees by 2015,” says Claire Woolley, recently named executive director of Chicago Gateway Green.

For more information, contact Chicago Gateway Green at 312-540-9930 or visit www.gatewaygreen.org.

Father’s Day is around the corner on June 20, and since Dad is more lunch than brunch and more backyard than corsage, Chalet is featuring several plants and home and garden items that will help him chill out on his special day, and, for that matter, all year long:

• The outdoor version of the favorite TV room recliner may just be the Adirondack chair. Through Father’s Day on June 20, buy two or more Poly Lumber Adirondack chairs, made from 100% recycled materials, for $599 at Chalet — more than $50 savings per chair. Just like dear old Dad, these chairs are both handsome and durable.

• What’s green all over, a kid-friendly project and a gift sure to become a conversation piece? Living walls, often used commercially for green roofs, are now available in home-sized kits exclusively at Chalet and are perfect for a display at home or in his office. Pick up a “canvas”, plants and instructions for a project that’s as quick and easy to assemble as it is a thoughtful gesture of love for Dad - and all things green.

• His lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood if you hand Dad or Grandpa some Big Daddy Hostas from Chalet. As their name implies, bigger is better with this variety of the hearty hosta plant ($24.99 for an extra-large plant).

• For snoozing, reading or just plain lying around, nothing beats a hammock. He’s no ordinary Dad, so only an extraordinary hammock will do, like Chalet’s line of hand-crafted Hatteras Hammocks, featuring top-notch all-weather fabrics, heavy rope for strength and comfort, charming decorative pillows and cypress stands. These durable, beautiful hammocks start at $209.

• Add more thrill to the grill with top-of-the-line Charcoal Champion barbecue tools and accessories, including a handy 4-in-1 All Purpose Grill Spatula complete with a cutting edge, tenderizer, grill cleaner and bottle opener in one handsome, high quality durable tool with rosewood handles ($12.99). For the catch of the day, try the Big Fish Spatula, with wide head, incredible construction and rosewood handles ($16.99)

• Keep the fire going well into the night with a fire pit, perfect for rousing get togethers as well as family s’more making night or even a quiet, solitary respite.

What’s red-hot now at Chalet: a solid copper fire pit that’s perfect for heating outdoors, grilling your favorite meats or simply adding an ambient fire to your outdoor parties. It features the deepest bowl on the marketplace and, because it’s made with 100% solid copper, offers greater durability and heat conductivity without the waste and pollution associated with other types of copper. This distinctive fire pit, which includes a cover screen, poker, and a non-toxic coated steel charcoal grate, starts at $299.

• Dads love tools - and that includes garden tools. Check out Chalet’s line of DeWit tools featuring modern designs with old-fashioned craftsmanship that tackle special problem areas, ranging from rockery trowels to patio knives to disc weeders and seeding rakes. Tools start at $12.99.

For these and other great Father’s Day gifts, visit Chalet at 3132 Lake Street in Wilmette and get a preview at www.ChaletNursery.com. Call 847.256.0561 or email info@ChaletNursery for more details.

When the Nike Sports Complex expansion opens on the north side of town in early 2011, the traditionally English game of cricket will be among the organized sports played on a pitch located at the new field space.

“It is very exciting to see a cricket pitch included in the new Nike Sports Complex because Naperville residents, especially its youth, will benefit in a big way from the programs the park district will be able to offer at the facility,” says Sarti Krishnan, a Naperville Park District Cricket League participant. The community has one other cricket pitch, at Commissioners Park, 3704 111th St.

“The addition will enable the district to expand its nationally renowned and highly popular cricket league, which has seen overflow demand for the past three years,” Krishnan says.
Cricket is played with two teams of eleven players each. Although the play and rules are different, the basic concept of cricket is similar to baseball. Teams bat in successive innings and attempt to score runs, while the opposing team fields and attempts to bring an end to the batting team’s innings. After each team has batted an equal number of innings, the team with the most runs wins.

“Cricket teaches patience, teamwork and self-confidence,” Krishnan says. “As with many competitive sports, younger players benefit the most because of values the sport teaches early on. Children as young as 8 years old can start playing seriously. Many people play the game for recreational purposes well into their 60s.”

Several thousand people use the existing 25-acre Nike Sports Complex every year for organized play and recreation. With viable, active youth sports teams in the thriving
community, Naperville became desperate for recreational field space on the north side of town. Land adjacent to the existing Nike Sports Complex was purchased for expansion in 2007 because of its size, contiguous location and ease of accessibility.

Area youth athletic coaches say the planned addition of 20 acres of field play at the site will get even more kids involved in the community’s record-winning teams – and help maintain its tradition of producing great sports athletes.

With the planned expansion at Mill Street and Diehl and Bauer Roads nearly doubling the facility’s existing size, amenities also will include the district’s first lighted, synthetic turf field and multi-use fields for soccer, football and lacrosse, in addition to cricket. Lighted courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball as well as a playground, walking and bicycle trails also will be used by youth and community residents.

“Without regular practice, a player will fail to perform well and a team will not win consistently until it plays well together,” Krishnan says of cricket. “Regular practice that results in improvement in game performance will significantly increase one’s overall self-confidence. In addition to cricket, this multi-sport facility is very attractive for the range of recreational activities it provides.”

The Nike Sports Complex expansion is based on resident feedback during the acquisition process, at several public meetings and from recommendations contained in the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. One of the first steps in the project’s development was installation of safety fencing and removal of trees and underbrush last fall. Engineering plans were developed and the park site received a positive recommendation from Plan Commission earlier this year, followed by City Council approval in April. Groundbreaking is planned for late June. An opening is targeted for early 2011.

For more information about the Nike Park Sports Complex expansion, call 630-848-5000 or visit www.napervilleparks.org. The Web site features news updates, a site plan and frequently asked questions about the project. Please visit the Web site to also learn about Naperville Park District and its numerous public programs, seasonal events and services.

Read more about the sports complex on Naperville Park District’s web site, here.

Everyone enjoys time for meditation. It’s healthy, calming, boosts metabolism and eases the anxious spirit. Why not carve out some time during your day and give it a try?Look how relaxed these people are and it’s not even lunch time yet!Why not meditate outside? No, not necessarily with a bunch of people around. That woman with the dark blonde hair not even doing it for real (totally peeking). We’re talking zen gardens.Robert Milani of Chalet recently spoke with Kelly Konrad on MakeItBetter.net about zen gardens on her fantastic article, ” Now and Zen: Meditation Space Just Steps Away” (read it here). Milani said “Meditation gardens can mean anything. We design a wide variety of spaces and outdoor rooms. With meditation, what comes to mind is something that is private. A place to meditate or pray.”Find a good outdoor space isolated by greenery (you may have to add some greens) and bring in some pretty, low-maintenance flowers. It could be that simple. Or be elaborate and create a garden wall, something to gaze at. Maybe add water - little babbling brook or an invigorating waterfall. Why not a bird bath?Why not check out Chalet’s web site for some more zen garden ideas like the image above?Meditation photo credit: Sarvodaya Shramada from Colombo, Sri Lanka, posted in Wikimedia Commons.

Learn to create stunning container gardens, plant with style, cook season’s bountyChalet, an award-winning landscape, nursery and garden center on Chicago’s North Shore, presents a free lecture and workshop series on seasonal gardening and garden design topics from June 3 through July 16, 2010. Lectures, which often include slide presentations and demonstrations, are held at the Chalet Education Center, 3132 Lake Ave., Wilmette, Ill., on Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and repeated Fridays, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.The schedule for mostly free summer education events are as follows:June 10 and 11: Don’t Forget the Summer Flowering ShrubsFlowering shrubs are wonderful additions to the landscape as specimen plants and members of mixed borders. Learn the favorite summer flowering shrubs of Jennifer Brennan, Chalet’s Horticulture Information Specialist. See slides and enjoy a walk through the nursery to get a personal introduction to these excellent showpieces for summer. Free. No registration required.June 17 and 18: Roy Diblik Presents … Right Plant in the Right Place with StyleSustainable perennial gardens do not need to look “wild and wooly.” Selecting the right plant for your garden is the key to its longevity in that “right place.” Roy Diblik, owner of Northwind Perennial Farm, will teach you how to use plants to create your own unique garden style. By using his trademarked concept of “Know Maintenance,” you can create a garden that you will enjoy because of its continuous beauty and unique characteristics. Free. No registration required.June 25 and 25: Butterfly Gardening with FreyaFreya Wellin, Chalet’s perennial buyer, has been busy raising butterflies! She will teach you about the life cycle of these special creatures and the host plants they need to sustain life. Even at summer’s peak, there is still time to add elements to attract butterflies to your garden. Free. No registration required.No classes July 1 and 2 due to holiday weekend. Happy Fourth of July!July 8 and 9: How to Water ProperlyA Chalet expert will discuss why correct watering is the most critical factor in the survival of our garden plants. Many of the problems diagnosed by Chalet’s experts aredue to inadequate watering techniques. Free. No registration required.July 15 and 16: Dave Esau Presents … Cooking with Your Summer HarvestDave Esau, chef and owner of Dave’s Specialty Foods (www.davespecialtyfoods.com), will demonstrate how to creatively use the harvest from your garden (or the farmers’ market). Esau was trained in France, has worked at Le Titi de Paris, Charlie Trotter’s and The American Club in Kohler, Wis., the only Five-Diamond resort in the Midwest. Enjoy the sights, fragrances and tastes at this fun demonstration. Free. No registration required.Lectures are free with no registration required. Tapes or DVD’s of each lecture can be rented for $3 for three nights. For questions about the series, contact Brennan at 847-256-0561, ext. 225, or jenniferb@chaletnursery.com.The goal of Chalet’s public education series, offered since 1997, is to provide timely, current and accurate horticultural information as a public service. The series reaches 3,000 adults and 700 children annually and regularly attracts industry leaders as guest lecturers. Education seminars are led by Brennan, who has a degree in ornamental horticulture and is an Illinois Certified Nursery Professional. The company’s Education Center and online resources offer tips and ideas on a broad range of subjects, from lawn care and pest control to caring for roses and creating a vertical garden.Click here to visit Chalet’s web site for more information.

Chalet’s new Plant Finder web-based tool enables gardeners to search for just the right plant and create a customized needs list for their home landscape. (Give it a try)Search for plants using specific keywords or from a series of search parameters, such as characteristics, landscape attribution, ornamental features and site conditions. The database then prunes through 7,800 trees, shrubs, ground-covers, roses, perennials, ornamental grasses and ferns to find the plant you’re looking for.Let’s give it a try! I went through and specified some features. I’m not too picky, though. I wanted a perennial for rock garden application that maybe attracted bees (the big fuzzy ones are okay). I also wanted it to peak in late spring, so I can sit outside and look at it before it gets too hot. I didn’t specify color and shade, but I would prefer something that could grow in a partially shaded area, fragrance being a bonus.Here was my first result:Autumn joy stonecrop! These dense broccoli flowers are exactly what I had in mind for my imaginary rock garden.What kind of plant are you looking for?Try Chalet’s Plant Finder.

In late April, the Naperville City Council voted to approve the expansion of the Nike Sports Complex. This expansion will add around 20 acres to the park, doubling its size. Additions include a lighted, synthetic turf field; fields for soccer, football and lacrosse; lighted tennis, basketball and volleyball courts; a playground; walking and bicycle trails; and a cricket pitch.The annexed property was purchased by the Park District in 2007 and the space was badly needed by local sports teams because of limited facilities on the north side of the city.Ground breaking on the expansion begins this summer.Click here to read about the unique military history of the land upon which the Nike Sports Complex is located.

This question was proposed by The Chief Engineer on April 2nd (see article). At initial consideration, it might not seem like a big deal, but the answer will not only affect the facility or business being questioned, but also the local environment and community - for years and years. Now take into consideration every other facility being asked the same question and expected to answer for their costs. To put this into new perspective, the world will need to invest one trillion dollars annually in conservation technologies to meet demand over the next twenty years.Recently,  several northeaster Illinois counties have considered aggressive conservation initiatives to ensure adequate water supply over the above time period and beyond. According to Inc. magazine in 2008, water managers in  36 states predict significant supply shortfalls in the decade ahead, reason being for aging infrastructures, inadequate treatment facilities and contamination issues.So how do facility mangers find the tools to gauge the impact of water use on environmental and operational costs? One solution might be Earthwise Environmental’s online cost calculator.Know how your facility can conserve water and energy, cut costs and create a safer environment. Calculations show before and after totals with the implementation of eSolutions, which eliminates hazardous chemical treatments, minimizes water use and reuses water to conserve waste. This application provides facilities with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points in water conservation and innovative technology categories.Read more about eSolutions on Earthwise Environmental’s web site, here.