Garfield Park Conservatory Debuts Huge New ‘Child Wild’ Garden And Play Space
Nick Martinez is a public health reporter who earned his Master’s in Public Health from the University of Chicago. Having previously worked with ProPublica, he focuses on health equity issues affecting the Chicago community.
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GARFIELD PARK — Months after debuting its colorful new indoor children s garden, the city s famous conservatory now also has an expansive new outdoor children s nature space. The Garfield Park Conservatory and Gardens unveiled on Thursday its new Child Wild Exploration Garden. The four-acre garden, which took over a portion of the conservatory s sprawling outdoor garden area, features several natural play areas for children and teenagers to spend unstructured time out in nature. This is a first of its kind garden, planted right here in Garfield Park, Park District Superintendent Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said at Thursday s ribbon cutting. This is a place that feels like discovery, that sparks wonder and invites children to go a little wild, where the children can run free. Wild Child is where parents can let their children be outside in nature, learning through a tactile experience. The Child Wild Exploration Garden opened at the Garfield Park Conservatory on Nov. 5, 2026. Cr