Open Lands of Orland Park To Hold Garden Walk & Bazaar

Tour five beautiful Orland Park residential gardens during the Open Lands of Orland Park Garden Walk on Sunday, June 24. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orland Park Civic Center. Tickets for the tour with light refreshments are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.  

Mayor Dan McLaughlin created the village's Open Land Commission in 1995 to acquire and preserve natural areas and areas with unique heritage qualities.  

“The Open Lands Garden Walk is one of the community’s favorite events,” said the mayor whose home has been included on past walks. “It’s a great opportunity to see beautiful gardens and help preserve open space in the village at the same time,” he added.

The walk begins at the Orland Park Civic Center where participants can shop the bazaar before or after touring the gardens. Ticket holders will receive an event program and directions to the gardens at check-in. Transportation is not provided.

The bazaar will be held inside the Orland Park Civic Center with area lawn and garden, gift shops and crafters offering goods and services for the home and garden. The bazaar is open to the public and there is no admission fee.

“Orland Park residents take great pride in their homes and neighborhoods and the gardens throughout the village are breathtaking,” said Trustee Kathy Fenton, who serves on the Open Lands Commission. “We are grateful to the residents who are opening up their yards so everyone can admire their work and helping raise funds to preserve open lands in the village,” Fenton said.

In 2000, voters approved a $20,000,000 referendum to facilitate the acquisition of a targeted 400 acres.  Over the past 16 years, the commission has purchased and protected more than 276 acres of land.  This is equivalent to almost 300 football fields of preserved open space. 

"We created the Open Lands Commission to preserve open space in the village before it was gone," McLaughlin said. "The commission has done a great job actively saving open areas throughout the community, preserving them for the future generations of Orland Park residents," the mayor added.

Some of these preserved areas include the Stellwagen Farm on 104th Avenue (pictured),  Timberlake near 153rd and Will Cook, the 135th Street Wetlands at 135th Street and Southwest Highway, the Boley Farm on 151st Street and the 153rd Street Wetlands at 108th and 153rd Streets.   These lands are in addition to the many acres of forest preserve in and around Orland Park.

In 2011, two new areas were purchased including 5.6 acres along the southern bank of Lake Sedgewick and 3.7 acres east of McGinnis Slough.  The commission continues to target strategic locations for protection.

The Open Lands Commission holds fundraisers throughout the year to help raise funds to buy open space in the village. The village's annual fall golf outing benefits Open Lands and the commission raises money with its annual Garden Walk. 

Open Lands properties are owned by the Village of Orland Park and are open to the public. Future plans include the village improving these important natural areas, increasing public access for passive recreation.

The Garden Walk is sponsored by MPI Media Group, Spaceco, Speer Financial, Inc. and Expert Chemical and Supply.

Advance tickets may be purchased at the cashier’s office in the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, 14700 South Ravinia Avenue. Home and garden, crafters and boutique vendors interested in renting space at the Garden Walk Bazaar may call the Recreation Department at 403-7275.