NORTH LAWNDALE — A destination green space on the West Side will soon return to its former glory with restoration work set to begin Friday.
The rehabilitation of the Sears Sunken Garden, 3312 W. Arthington St. in North Lawndale, will begin Friday, when repairs will begin on its historical pergola, Friends of the Sears Sunken Garden announced Tuesday.
Work will consist of restoring the pergola, making the area ADA-accessible and adding new lighting. The pergola work will last though mid-July, when restoration of the garden will begin, according to the community group leading the effort.
The garden will be closed to the public during the duration of the project.
The Sears Sunken Garden in North Lawndale at 3330 W. Arthington St, photographed from the Sears, Roebuck and Company Complex tower on Oct. 16, 2025. Credit: Michael Liptrot/Block Club Chicago
Renderings of renovations to the Sears Sunken Garden in North Lawndale at 3330 W. Arthington St. Credit: Terra Engineering LTD
The restoration project, five years in the making, was slated to break ground in October, but obtaining city permits and holding additional meetings with community stakeholders led to the delay, according to Friends of the Sears Sunken Garden.
A permit was issued Dec. 30, city records show. The organization has met with Ald. Monique Scott (24th), County Commissioner Michael Scott, the Foundation for Homan Square and the office of U.S. Rep. Danny Davis.
“This moment reflects the power of community — neighbors, partners, and leaders coming together with a shared vision,” Reshorna Fitzpatrick, board chair of the Friends of Sears Sunken Garden and executive pastor of Stone Temple Baptist Church in North Lawndale, said in a statement. “The Sears Sunken Garden will become a beautiful, welcoming space that serves residents and visitors for generations to come.”
The garden opened in 1907 and was created by Sears, Roebuck and Co. as a leisure space for employees who worked at the 40-acre industrial West Side complex that served as the retail giant’s headquarters.
After Sears moved Downtown in the ’70s, the garden’s condition declined.
The Sears, Roebuck and Co. sunken gardens in the North Lawndale neighborhood on March 10, 2021. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Renderings of renovations to the Sears Sunken Garden in North Lawndale at 3330 W. Arthington St. Credit: Terra Engineering LTD
Restoring the garden was explored in 2021 by the GROWSS Committee, a neighborhood group dedicated to urban agriculture and beautification that’s affiliated with the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council. The project is part of fulfilling the group’s 2018 Quality of Life Plan.
In 2023, North Lawndale residents began planting new plots for the garden, taking the first steps toward reviving the area.
The full restoration includes a newly designed garden space by world-renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf, who designed the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park, and designer Roy Diblik.
The project also includes the installation of stormwater runoff storage and an irrigation system as well as adding seating, increasing accessibility and new lighting. It is expected to take 18 months, according to the Trust for Public Land.
The total project is expected to cost about $5 million, including $700,000 for the pergola rehabilitation, according to the Trust for Public Land. Currently, the project has $1.35 million in funding, and fundraising is continuing. This funding includes a $1 million donation from the Driehaus Foundation.
Beyond the Driehaus Foundation, the restoration project has received support from the Trust for Public Land, The Builder’s Initiative and BMO Bank.
Construction work will be confined to 7 a.m.-3 p.m., with noise-generating work beginning at 8 a.m., according to Friends of the Sears Sunken Garden. For more information, visit the Sears Sunken Garden website.
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