Habitat Highland Park, a joint project of Go Green Highland Park and the League of Women Voters of Highland Park-Highwood, with funding support from the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood, launched on Sunday, May 1 (Arbor Day rain date) by creating demonstration wildlife gardens on the grounds of historic Stupey Cabin.

Focused on a goal of achieving National Wildlife Federation (NWF) accreditation as a “Community Wildlife Habitat” for the City of Highland Park, Habitat Highland Park’s steering committee will be overseeing the creation and maintenance of a group of educational demonstration gardens on the Stupey Cabin property adjacent to Highland Park Library and City Hall.

Volunteers prepared garden space starting on May 1. Two types of demonstration gardens were planted May 9 and 10 with native plants: a sunny pollinator-friendly garden and a woodland shade garden, to be accompanied by educational signage.

“Highland Park is known for cherishing its natural resources, qualifying as a Tree City and adopting the NWF Mayors’ Monarch Way Station Proclamation,” says Habitat HP’s Steering Committee Chair Candice Dalrymple.

“Our Park District, with multiple inviting natural areas in its care, is another enthusiastic entity promoting a healthy environment for people, plants and wildlife.

“We’re so grateful to have the generous financial support of the local Rotary Club for this garden project and the OK from the Historical Society to plant on their grounds,” she adds.

Go Green HP chair Jenny Futterman observes that “A large number of residents already maintain wildlife-friendly yards. Many individual properties are also independently NWF certified as official wildlife-friendly habitats. We founded Habitat HP to capitalize on that high regard and promote further awareness and stewardship among all our residents.

“As all of us better understand the vital role of native plants in supporting pollinators and wildlife habitats, we can decrease our dependence on chemical sprays and overwatering in our gardens,” Futterman adds.

Go Green HP and the League of Women Voters of Highland Park-Highwood, both nonprofit organizations, share mission principles in support of a healthy environment. Founding Habitat HP is an outgrowth of their educational activities. Other members of the Habitat HP Steering Committee are Bryna Gamson, Anne Loshbough, Karen Lustig, Barb Reppen and Chris Wren.

Interested residents can join the HPHS student club Green School Initiative (GSI), Go Green HP, League and Rotary members who are taking an active part in the preparation, planting and stewardship of the demonstration gardens.