Churchville Garden is All Cleaned Up And Ready for Students

Information provided by Elmhurst Unit District 205

About 40 students, faculty and parents showed up early Saturday, Aug. 10, to pull weeds, pick up trash and beautify Churchville's Prairie and Diversity Gardens in time for back to school.  

Art teacher Ashley Skinner set up a tie-dye station for student volunteers and was joined by Churchville Principal Gina Reeder, Assistant Principal Peter Cunningham plus a host of teachers, parents, and community members in the annual event.  The Churchville Prairie, which serves as an outdoor classroom, is in full bloom this time of year and now features a growing short-grass oak savanna, new prairie plants and more.

The Churchville Prairie was a dream of former Churchville teacher Ron Capek. Churchville parent Elizabeth Dierksheide helped fund the gardens through grants she wrote several years ago. Restoration of the Prairie Garden was supported by community groups, including the Elmhurst 205 Foundation, the DuPage Community Foundation, the Elmhurst Garden Club, the Elmhurst Park District and the Churchville PTA.