Here's How to Buy Thousands of Chicago Park District Plants Going Unused In Pandemic
FROM BLOCKCLUB CHICAGO
GARFIELD PARK — The Chicago Park District is selling thousands of flowers initially intended to be planted in parks across the city.
Due to the pandemic, the Park District has had to scale back its typical spring beautification efforts. The public health emergency is preventing the district from hiring seasonal workers to spruce up the flower beds at the parks, leaving thousands of flowers unplanted.
But instead of letting the flowers go to waste, the Park District is selling 50,000 of its annuals, which were grown at greenhouses and nurseries around the city.
"We're trying to turn a tough situation into something positive," said Cathy Breitenbach, director of cultural and natural resources. "A lot of people are spending more time at home. This is a way to let people enjoy the beauty of our park gardens at their home."
The Park District partnered with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance to facilitate a sale with no-contact pickup at the conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.
Plants can be bought through the alliance's online portal, and pickup times can be scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You can buy individual plants, packs of three and six plants and flats of 10 plants.
