The first 40-acre tract of Garfield Park was opened to the public in August of 1874. Originally named Central Park, it was the centerpiece of the West Park System. Wiiliam LeBaron Jenney, designer Garfield Park, was influenced by French parks and boulevards while living and studying in Paris, his influence can be seen and felt in his designs of Westside parks. In 1881, the park was renamed in honor of slain United States President James A. Garfield.
Jens Jensen, was hired as the superintendant of the West Park area, his most notable influence in Garfield Park can be seen in the formal flower garden south of Madison Street. Here Jensen combined Prairie-style elements and traditional formal elements. The original intentions for the park were for strolling and picnicking. However, Jensen's engineering expertise led to the development of a large lagoon which served as a means of draining the park site, while in the summer the lagoon was used for boating and in the winter time for ice skating.
Recreational features of the park include baseball and soccer field, tennis courts, basket ball courts, a swimming pool, an ice skating rink and play areas for children. The Golden Dome highlights include an Olympic-sized gymnasium, fitness center, boxing ring, theater and gymnastic facility. Visitors can enjoy programs suited to people of all ages and includes picnicking, outdoor concerts and seasonal festivals.
In the late 19th century, each of the Westfield Parks had its own conservatory and greenhouse. After being used for 20 years, the conservatories became outdated and obsolete. In 1905, Jens Jensen demolished 3 of the smaller greenhouses in Humboldt, Douglas and Garfield Parks to create a larger, publicly owned conservatory in Garfield Park.
Construction began in 1906 and 1907, and the Garfield Park Conservatory was designed by Jensen in collaboration with the architectural firm of Schmidt, Garden and Martin and the New York engineering firm of Hitchings and Co. The structure represented a unique collaboration of architects, engineers, sculptors, artisans and landscape architects.
Jensen wanted the Conservatory to be a series of natural-like landscapes under glass, which was an unheard of idea at the time. The strong shape of the structure was designed to resemble the haystacks of the Midwest, complete with the foliage and plants it houses.
Today, Garfield Park Conservatory still follows the traditional tenets of Jens Jensen. One of the most popular rooms at the facility is the Palm Room. Here visitors can view 7 dozen different types of Palm trees from more than 2,700 varieties known to exist today. Of particular importance is the Double Coconut Palm, which was grown by conservatory employees in 1959. The tree is only found today off the coast of South Africa, in its native environment and produces the biggest seed of any type of plant in the world.
The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest and most impressive conservatories in America. The site consists of 4.5-acres and is devoted to displaying an impressive collection of plants from all over the world. Visitors are welcome to enjoy one of the largest collections of "landscape art under glass'', and take advantage of the many wonderful things the park and conservatory have to offer.
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