Accessibility

Entrance & Parking

The Conservatory has a free visitor parking lot with designated accessible parking spots located in the northeast corner. There are paved pathways from the parking lot to the building entrance, as well as ramps and a push button automated door.

Wheelchairs

We have a limited number of wheelchairs available for free use on site. They are checked out with a photo ID on a first come, first served basis. 

Wheelchairs will be thoroughly wiped down between visitors. 

Groups

Group reservations are being accepted on select dates and times. Pre-registration is required.   If you’d like to book a student field trip or adult group visit with accommodations, please contact our School and Groups Coordinator at groups@garfieldpark.org or 773-638-1766 x25. 

Indoor Greenhouses

The Conservatory has over 2 acres of gardens in 8 different display houses indoors. Seven of the eight houses have paved, even pathways that are accessible and provide access to our plant collection.

Due to its historic landmark status, the staircase leading to the Fern Room has not been renovated with a ramp or hand rails. Also worth noting, the pathway in this room transitions into 3-4 stepping stones at two points halfway around the room.

Outdoor Gardens

The Conservatory has approximately 10 acres of outdoor gardens and winding pathways, many of which are paved. Some side pathways are gravel or sand and therefore not suitable for all mobility devices. Please note, active beehives are located on the south end of the campus.

Sensory Garden
The sensory garden is a large, raised bed that stands at about 3.5 ft tall. This raised bed houses our Carnivorous Plant Bog in addition to a variety of plants perfect for touching, smelling and examining closely.

Accessibility in Children's Spaces

(Weather Permitting) Play and Grow Garden
Our outdoor nature play space is appropriate for typically developing children under 8 years old, but is open to visitors of all abilities to explore. Most of the Garden is accessible by most mobility devices via paved and gravel pathways.

(Temporarily Closed) Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden
The Elizabeth Morse Children’s Garden has an elevator to provide access to the mezzanine level and slide entrance.

Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteer program at the Conservatory offers a variety of programs for individuals of all abilities to join who share our passion for nature. We are happy to discuss any additional supports you may need for each program. For more information about our volunteer program and to complete an application, click here or contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@garfieldpark.org or 773-638-1777 x26.

Programs

The Conservatory has a wide variety of programming for the public and our staff is committed to providing engaging and educational experiences for all guests.  We will make accommodations based on visitor needs and abilities, and are happy to discuss our programs ahead of time should you have any questions or concerns. Autogenerated closed captioning is available at our virtual programs and all registration based programs include an accommodations request as part of the registration process.

Please contact us at least 72 hours prior to the start of the program, if not sooner, for accommodations requests. To request accommodations at programming, please contact access@garfieldpark.org or call 773-638-1766 x 16.

Resources

We offer lots of different resources for groups, families and teachers in our resource center. If you have any questions about these lesson plans, scavenger hunts, and activities please contact our staff at groups@garfieldpark.org.

We also have a Texture Hunt specifically made for students with varying degrees of vision impairments.  If you’re interested in using this resource, please contact our School Programs staff at groups@garfieldpark.org for more information.