Accessibility

Entrance & Parking

The Conservatory & Gardens has a free visitor parking lot with three designated accessible parking spaces. Paved pathways connect the parking lot to the building entrance, with ramps and a push button automated door. It is roughly 400 feet from the lot to the lobby.  

In front of the main entrance is a drop-off lane with cut curbs. This is roughly 150 feet from the drop-off zone to the lobby using the ramp. Free street parking along Central Park Avenue and Lake Street is also available. 

Getting Here

The Garfield Park Conservatory & Gardens is at 300 N. Central Park Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The CTA Green Line’s Conservatory/Central Park stop is ½ block south of the main entrance. This is an accessible station with a working elevator.  

Bus options include:   

• (north/south) #82 Kimball-Homan route is .4 miles east 
• (east/west) #20 Madison Ave bus is .4 miles south 
• (east/west) #66 Chicago Ave bus is .65 north.  

A Divvy bike station is near the visitor parking lot and bike racks are located by the main entrance. 

Amenities

A Gift Shop off the Lobby has snacks and drinks available for purchase. Drinking and refill water stations are located in the Lobby and entrance to the Palm House. Wednesday – Sunday from 10am – 3pm, Momentum Coffee hosts a cart in Horticulture Hall with beverages and pastries for purchase. Outside food and drink is allowed in Horticulture Hall. 

Benches are located throughout the indoor and outdoor gardens, in addition to the tabled seating in Horticulture Hall, Artist’s Garden and Bluestone Terrace.

Restrooms are located off the lobby. Both the men’s and women’s restrooms are equipped with accessible stalls and changing tables. 

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 are wiped down between visitors.

KultureCity Partnership

We partner with KultureCity®, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs. Sensory bags are available to check out at the Front Desk. Quiet Areas, places that are typically quieter, are located in the Community Room and Jensen Room.

Learn more about what to expect on your upcoming visit in the Social Story on the KultureCity® App. Download the app for Apple or Android. (Links open in a new tab).

Groups

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. 

The Fern Room is not fully accessible. The staircase leading into the Fern Room has not been renovated with a ramp, due to historic landmark status, or handrails. Also, halfway around the room, the pathway transitions to 3-4 steppingstones to cross over a small stream. 

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 mid-spring through mid-fall. 

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 offers a variety of programs for individuals of all abilities to join who share our passion for nature. A range of adaptive gardening tools are available. 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

Programs include a drop-in format for families, concerts, classes and more! Our staff provide engaging and educational experiences for all guests. Many programs are designed with accessibility in mind and staff are happy to make accommodations as requested. 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. (link opens in a new tab). 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.