While visitors have been able to enjoy the outdoor gardens surrounding the Garfield Park Conservatory, the Palm House, Desert House and all of the other beloved indoor gardens have been closed to the public for much of the past year. With restrictions on indoor activities being relaxed as Chicago experiences a significant downturn in COVID-19 case numbers, the Garfield Park Conservatory will join cultural institutions throughout the city in welcoming a limited number of guests back inside this month—but you'll need to snag a reservation.
The Chicago Park District announced that Garfield Park Conservatory's indoor garden spaces and global plant collection will reopen to neighbors and members on February 24, before expanding to the general public on February 27. Neighbors and members will be able to reserve timed-entry tickets via the conservatory's website at 10am on Wednesday, February 10; those tickets will be made available to the general public at 10am on Friday, February 12.
The reopening will be accompanied by various safety measures, including mask requirements for all staff and visitors, social distancing throughout the facility and one-way paths through rooms within the conservatory. Due to their small size and limited pathways, the Fern Room, Horticulture Hall, Jensen Room and the Children’s Garden will be closed to visitors for the time-being. To keep capacity at the desired level, reservations are limited to 60 minutes for parties of up to five people.
The reopening of Garfield Park Conservatory will coincide with the debut of the 2021 Spring Flower Show, which is based on the theme of "Saturation." Visitors will be able experience the colorful blooms in the show through Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9.
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