Cantigny's 'New Leaf Project' Looks Ahead To New Year

WHEATON, IL — Last fall, Cantigny Park launched an ambitious multi-year project to transform its sprawling 500-acre campus. As the project —called Project New Leaf— wraps up its first year, we take a look back at what's changed and a look forward at what's in store for Cantigny Park.

Military Museum Remodeled

One of Project New Leaf's first undertakings was a full remodel of its First Division Military Museum. The bulk of the work on the museum wrapped up in late August, with the installation of brick paths and a multi-season picnic pavilion. The adjacent Tank Park also got some attention: all 11 of its Army tanks were cleaned and repainted.

The museum's interior now features a 2,500 square foot gallery called Duty First. The gallery spotlights multimedia works that honor the army's 1st Infantry division with virtual reality and recordings made by former infantry soldiers.

Red Oak Colonnade

In November, Cantigny Park began work on Red Oak Colonnade, which will lead the way from the Visitors Center to the First Division Military Museum. Two rows of towering red oak trees will run parallel from north to south just outside the museum.

Ecological Pond Garden

Visitors who remember the gold and silver ponds at Cantigny will find these bodies of water have transformed into the Ecological Pond Garden. A boardwalk leads to the edge of the now-expanded pond area, which will be skirted by more than 12,000 wetland plants.

Cantigny Park will host a grand reopening for the Pond Gardens, in addition to the new Display Gardens, next year.

Display Gardens

In July 2018, the public will be able to see the park's fully restored Display Gardens. Changes to this part of the park include adding a hedge of seven-foot tall evergreen trees and a linear flower garden brimming with colorful perennials that are native to Illinois.

The park will also refinish this section's pathways so they are more accessible to handicapped patrons.

Farm-Themed Playground

New Leaf will also debut its new farm-themed playground next spring, giving kids a place to burn off energy while parents take a break from walking the park grounds.

Project New Leaf has admittedly been the park's biggest undertaking since it opened nearly six decades ago. For this endeavor, they hired Boston design firm Sasaki Associates, who worked on Chicago's revamped Riverwalk.

In 2018, Project New Leaf will shift its focus to the area west of the Visitors Center, according to its website. The park will remain open during the multi-year project, which is expected to last into 2021.

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