News Release
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
September 20, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brookfield Zoo’s New Hamill Family Nature Plaza Provides a Green Space to Relax, Learn, Explore, and Have Fun
Brookfield, Ill. –More than 85 percent of Americans live in an urbanized area, many without easy access to green spaces and exploring the outdoors. The Chicago Zoological Society, which is committed to providing nature-related and animal experiences in a welcoming environment, announced today, September 20, a new learning, fun, and exploration space at Brookfield Zoo. Located at the south end of the park, the Hamill Family Nature Plaza sits on the site of the former Baboon Island. Additionally, the restaurant previously known as Scoops has been renovated and reopened as Peacock Café and Grill.
The east side of Hamill Family Nature Plaza is all about relaxation. Guests are greeted by a serene natural environment with undulating winding pathways that feature opportunities for nature play. Oversized chimes and flower-shaped percussion instruments allow zoogoers to use their imagination and create beautiful sounds individually or as a family. A fabricated nest is nearby where youngsters can climb in and pretend to be a bird.
During the summer season, guests will definitely notice the presence of dragonflies and pollinators such as butterflies as they flutter, fly, and buzz among the more than 10,000 perennial plants and 8,200 square feet of perennial seeds used to cover the landscape. Additionally, nearly 670 deciduous, evergreen, and flowering trees and shrubs were planted throughout the 1.5-acre space.
A variety of seating, including metal-framed benches, is situated along the winding pathways allowing zoogoers places to rest and enjoy the scenery. The benches are fabricated of an eco-friendly polypropylene plastic made from 90 percent recycled materials and are themselves 100 percent recyclable.
The council ring also provides an area for guests to socialize and relax or it can be a space used for structured educational offerings, such as Zoo Camp. It is dedicated to Danish-American landscape architect Jens Jensen, who played a prominent role in the creation of the prairie-style architecture found in many gardens and urban landscapes and who also played a role in the foundation of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
The west side of Hamill Family Nature Plaza is all about discovery. A science exploration garden with bench seating provides an area for structured zoo education programming. A water interpretation garden features wetland-type plantings, and educates guests about water issues and the importance of having green space for responsible drainage. And, a sensory garden, located along the main promenade, features an accessible space with raised beds, wide walkways, and planting spaces that can accommodate guests of all abilities. There, guests can learn about summer flowers and vegetables that they can plant at home, along with the importance of pollinators. During the summer months, guests may encounter the zoo’s adult and teen volunteers, who will be able to provide additional information about nature-related and green-themed topics.
Located in the middle of the plaza is a large, open-sided, three-season pavilion that is the perfect setting during the warmer seasons for an informal chat with the animal care staff and the zoo’s animal ambassadors. The space may also be used for education programs such as Family Fun Saturdays and teachers’ courses. After hours, the area provides a wonderful venue to rent for private functions such as weddings, receptions, and corporate events.
A day filled with learning and exploration can lead to an appetite, and the Peacock Café and Grill features a menu themed around sustainable dining. Options include locally grown produce, ice cream made with sustainably sourced palm oil, grass-fed beef burgers, antibiotic-free chicken, and sustainably harvested Antarctic salmon. There is also the Impossible™ burger for those who prefer a plant-based option. Ice cream favorites include sundaes, shakes, malts, and floats. A variety of flavors and toppings are available. Guests can also try a freshly made funnel cake sprinkled with powdered sugar or topped with ice cream. Guests 21 years or older can quench their thirst with Brookfield Zoo’s branded beer—Hair of the Frog—that is served on tap. Outdoor seating provides views of Hamill Family Nature Plaza. An updated interior seating area is also an option.
The nature plaza was made possible through a generous donation from the Hamill Family Foundation.
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by engaging people and communities with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.
Hamill Family Nature Plaza Plant List
More than 650 trees and shrubs, 10,000 perennials and vines, and more than 8,200 square feet of perennial seeds were planted to make the 1.5-acre Hamill Family Nature Plaza a green space where Brookfield Zoo guests can relax, learn, see animal presentations, explore, eat, and just have fun.
Deciduous Trees: 23
Whitespire birch (Betula populifolia ‘whitespire’)
Redpointe red maple (Acer ‘redpointe’)
Thornless common honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis)
Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
Princeton elm (Ulmus x ‘princeton’)
Evergreen Trees: 9
Eastern red juniper (Juniperus virginiana ‘canaertii’)
Nigra cedar (Thuja occidentalis ‘nigra’)
Flowering Trees: 16
Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea ‘autumn brilliance’)
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Deciduous Shrubs: 579
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘hummingbird’)
Ivory halo dogwood (Cornus alba ‘bailhalo’)
Southern bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia ‘butterfly’)
Common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘quick fire’)
Tardiva hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘tardiva’)
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Gro-low fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica ‘gro-low’)
Sunny knock out rose (Rosa x ‘radsunny’)
Korean lilac (Syringa meyeri)
Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii ‘compactum’)
Southern arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum `northern burgundy`)
Evergreen Shrubs: 42
Nick`s compact pfitzer juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘pfitzeriana nicks compacta’)
Vines and Espalier: 17
Sweet autumn virginsbower (Clematis terniflora)
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Angela rose cl. (Rosa x ‘angela’ cl.)
Understory Perennials: 9,263
Summer beauty allium (Allium x ‘summer beauty’)
Arkansas blue-star (Amsonia hubrichtii)
Snowdrop anemone (Anemone sylvestris)
Purple smoke false indigo (Baptisia x ‘purple smoke’)
Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
Brown fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)
Purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
Sneezeweed (Helenium x ‘moerheim beauty’)
Shreve’s iris (Iris virginica shrevei )
Walker’s low catmint (Nepeta mussinii ‘walker`s low’)
Switch grass (Panicum virgatum ‘shenandoah’)
Dark towers penstemon (Penstemon x `dark towers`)
Autumn moor grass Sesleria autumnalis)
Prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis)
Dart’s blue periwinkle (Vinca minor ‘dart’s blue’)
Accent Perennials: 440
Prairie milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)
Snakeroot (Cimicifuga racemosa ‘brunette’)
Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
Magnus purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘magnus’)
Virgin coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘virgin’)
Sensory Garden Understory Perennials: 310
White catmint (Calamintha nepeta `montrose white`)
Firewitch cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘firewitch’)
Hameln dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘hameln’)
Russian sage (Perovskia x ‘little spire’)
Helene von stein lamb`s ear (Stachys byzantina ‘helene von stein’)
Creeping red thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘coccineum’)
Pink chintz thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘pink chintz’)
Perennial Seed Mixes: 8,208 square feet
Blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Bush’s coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha)
Little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
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Photo Captions—credit Chicago Zoological Society/Cathy Bazzoni
1: Hamill Family Nature Plaza encompasses 1.5 acres on the south side of Brookfield Zoo. It provides a welcoming environment where guests can learn, explore, relax, and have fun.
2: The council ring at the Hamill Family Nature Plaza provides an area for Brookfield Zoo guests to socialize and relax or it can be a space used for structured educational offerings, such as Zoo Camp. Along the pathway are oversized chimes (pictured right in the background) that allow zoogoers to use their imagination and create beautiful sounds individually or as a family.
3: Hamill Family Nature Plaza is on the site of Brookfield Zoo’s former Baboon Island where a variety of species resided. The habitat dated back to the opening of the zoo in 1934. To commemorate the past, a small portion of the reddish-brown gunite was salvaged and stands in the northeast corner of the space with graphics depicting its history.
4 and 6: Hamill Family Nature Plaza’s landscape features more than 10,000 perennial plants and 8,200 square feet of perennial seeds. Additionally, more than 650 deciduous, evergreen, and flowering trees and shrubs were planted throughout the 1.5-acre space.
5: Located in the middle of the plaza is a large, open-sided, three-season pavilion that is the perfect setting during the warmer seasons for an informal chat with the animal care staff and the zoo’s animal ambassadors. The space may also be used for education programs such as Zoo Camp, Family Fun Saturdays, and teachers’ courses. After hours, the pavilion and plaza provides a wonderful venue to rent for private functions weddings, receptions, and corporate events.
7: A sensory garden features an accessible space with raised beds, wide walkways, and planting spaces that can accommodate guests of all abilities.
8: A living wall at Brookfield Zoo’s Hamill Family Nature Plaza.
9: Flower-shaped percussion instruments allow zoogoers to use their imagination and create beautiful sounds individually or as a family. In the background is the new Peacock Café and Grill featuring a menu themed around sustainable dining.
10: Brookfield Zoo guests can eat at new picnic tables that look out at the Hamill Family Nature Plaza. The tables are fabricated of an eco-friendly polypropylene plastic made from 90 percent recycled materials and are themselves 100 percent recyclable.
Hamill Family Nature Plaza and Peacock Café and Grill Fact Sheet
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Hamill Family Nature Plaza encompasses 1.5 acres and is located on the south side of Brookfield Zoo.
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Opening day: September 20, 2019
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More than 650 trees and shrubs, over 10,000 perennials and vines, and more than 8,200 square feet of perennial seeds were planted.
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Metal-framed benches and picnic tables, are composed of 90 percent recycled materials and are themselves 100 percent recyclable. They are constructed of eco-friendly polypropylene plastic and produce no toxic fumes. The ceiling in the three-season pavilion is also constructed from the same material.
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Depending on the set-up, the pavilion space can accommodate approximately 200 people, It can be rented after zoo hours for private functions, including weddings, receptions, and corporate events.
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The ceiling fan in the pavilion is energy efficient, producing savings as much as 30 percent. It also will keep guests cooler in the warmer months by at least 10 degrees.
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The countertops in the science exploratory garden and the outdoor grill at Peacock Café and Grill are made of concrete to withstand the outdoor elements year-round.
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The sensory garden, which is used for community engagement programs is accessible to guests of all abilities. It features raised planters and a living wall.
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During the summer, volunteer teens from the zoo’s King Conservation Science Scholars program will engage guests of all ages in science exploration and activities.
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Nature play elements include four colorful flower-shaped percussion instruments with various tones; vertical chimes, and a fabricated bird’s nest for youngsters to play in.
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The Council Ring provides an area for guests to gather and relax or it can also be a space for structured educational offerings, such as Zoo Camp. It is dedicated to Danish-American landscape architect Jens Jensen, who played a prominent role in the creation of the prairie-style architecture found in many gardens and urban landscapes, and who also played a role in the foundation of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
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Hamill Family Nature Plaza is on the site of Brookfield Zoo’s former Baboon Island where a variety of species resided over the years. The habitat dated back to the opening of the zoo in 1934. To commemorate the past, a small portion of the reddish-brown gunite was salvaged and stands in the northeast corner of the space with graphics depicting its history.
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On the west side of the pavilion is a filtered water refill station and hand sink.
Peacock Café and Grill
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Peacock Café and Grill features a new outdoor grill where made-to-order menu items are cooked.
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Menu items include:
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Grass-fed burgers
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Impossible™ burgers
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Grilled salmon sandwich
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Crispy chicken breast sandwich
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Garden salad
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French, butter garlic, and bacon ranch fries
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Green bean fries
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Tabboulah salad
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Fruit pasta salad
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Assorted ice cream flavors and toppings
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Sundaes
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Shakes and malts
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Funnel cake
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Assorted beverages, including Brookfield Zoo’s branded beer—Hair of the Frog
The updated outdoor dining courtyard features new picnic and café tables made of the same eco-friendly material as the benches and pavilion ceiling in Hamill Family Nature Plaza.
Indoor seating also has been updated with new tables and chairs.
New stainless steel kitchen equipment will cool, chill, warm, cook, and overall facilitate the preparation of delicious food options that are locally and sustainably sourced.
General Information
Construction Management: Featherstone, Inc. (Downers Grove, Illinois)
Landscape Architect: Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects (Chicago, Illinois)