Cantigny is about more than preserving military history
Wheaton park recognized for environmental consciousness
By Jane Charmelo
Besides paying homage to the late Col. Robert McCormick, Cantigny Park prides itself on being “good stewards” of an estate the late owner entrusted to future generations as caretakers of his legacy.
Recently, Cantigny Park received recertification of its Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program status, through Audubon International (AI), according to Jeff Reiter, senior manager of communications.
He explained that earning the recognition actually started out with the golf course.
Audubon International, he said, “struck a deal with the U.S. Golf Association [in the early 1990s] to get golf courses to become more environmentally friendly, practice habitat management and resource conservation.”
Cantigny Golf opened in 1989, and in 1993 became one of only nine golf courses in the United States to earn the sanctuary certification.
The courses have to apply for the recognition and meet AI criteria, Reiter continued, adding that now there are over 2,200 golf courses around the world that have earned the sanctuary status.
“We were at the very early wave of that trend,” he said of the golf course’s focus on the environment.
Reiter outlined how the idea of creating a sanctuary program then expanded to include businesses, schools, communities and parks—“it’s much broader now”—and added, “We thought Cantigny Park should be part of this as well.”
The park got its first certification in 2012, he continued, reiterating that certification—and recertification every three years—comes with very specific criteria that include environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water quality management.
“You have to comply with these six areas that are important to the environment,” the manager emphasized.
And, when it came time for recertification, in 2015 and again this year, the park received a visual inspection to make sure all criteria were met.
“You don’t just check the boxes,” quipped Reiter of the recertification process.
Giving some examples of how Cantigny Park is meeting the challenge, he mentioned that the golf course has set aside space for “wild” areas that are not mowed, but are kept in their natural state for the sake of wildlife and habitat conservation.
The park has over 50 bluebird boxes and a chimney swift tower, and is using more biological fungicides when needed, Reiter noted, adding, too, that with the five-year Project New Leaf renovations, there has been a lot of dirt moved around, and “we’re very mindful of the water that’s exiting the property.”
He said staff members have created buffer areas using native aquatic plants that serve as a filter for water runoff. The park is also home to 18 beehives, the manager continued, commenting, “We’re very mindful of honeybees … They need help.”
The manager said the park also has a new pollinator garden, or “a garden within a garden.”
“Our commitment to sound environmental practices runs throughout Cantigny, in the park and on the golf course. Doing what’s right for the land, the water and wildlife guides our daily operations,” stated Scott Witte, Cantigny’s director of horticulture, in an email. “We think the positive impact of what we do here goes beyond the borders of Cantigny. It’s important for park visitors and golfers to see our commitment to such things as habitat restoration and water quality management. Hopefully we’re providing some ideas that our visitors can apply at home.”
Witte mentioned that staff continually monitor the park for invasive species, and also work to add to the native plant restoration projects through the park, which he noted is made up of 500 acres.
By continuing its practices that align with AI, Reiter said “it sort of gives us a template” for continued environmental consciousness and at the same time maintains the stewardship to which the staff are committed.
“It sort of signifies a recurring commitment on our part to do what’s right for the environment,” he summed up. “It’s what Col. McCormick would have wanted.”
Another example of environmental awareness and education is reflected in two upcoming monarch “tagging” programs on Thursdays, Sept. 13 and 20, at 1 p.m. in the Idea Garden. A member of Monarch Watch will talk about the importance of maintaining monarch butterflies and their habitats, and there will be a tagging of the monarchs (with stickers).
For more information, visit Cantigny.org.
For more information about Audubon International, email [email protected] or visit its website at www.auduboninternational.org.
