More than a year after construction began on the Herbert M. Rubenstein Memorial Garden at the Oak Park Conservatory, the Park District of Oak Park will hold a grand opening party on Saturday morning.
Authorization for the project, which is part of the park district’s comprehensive master plan to revamp public park spaces in Oak Park, was granted in January of 2009, but the actual construction of the memorial garden didn’t begin until June of 2010.
The garden’s namesake, Herbert Rubenstein, was a co-founder of the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes the conservatory. Rubenstein was a doctor at Loyola University Hospital and a professor of medicine and orthopedics. He died in 2008, and his family contributed a large sum of money for the garden construction project. Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory also committed money to the project.
The grand opening event and formal dedication will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on July 9 at the Oak Park Conservatory at 615 Garfield. Refreshments will be served while guests are invited to admire the trees, shrubs, and perennials planted throughout the memorial garden. The garden also features a patio area, fountain and sculpture, a plant wall, and park benches.