Sears Sunken Garden

The Friends of Sears Sunken Garden now have a brand new website: https://searssunkengarden.org/garden/

Make sure to check it out to learn about progress and upcoming events!

Originally built in 1907 as part of the sprawling Sears, Roebuck & Company campus in North Lawndale, the Sears Sunken Garden fell into disrepair after Sears vacated the campus in 1973. North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council’s (NLCCC) 2018 Quality of Life plan calls for repair and maintenance of both historic and publicly accessible outdoor spaces. 

In 2019, NLCCC’s GROWSS Committee (Green, Open Space, Water, Soil, and Sustainability), began exploring possibilities for renovating the garden, which is registered as a National Historic Landmark.

In 2021, the group formed Friends of Sears Sunken Garden (501c3), received a $100,000 grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and enlisted a design team (including world-renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf) to begin work on the restoration project.

On August 16th, 2022, Piet Oudolf visited the garden and discussed possible ideas with community members and Chris Gent, the Landscape Architect of Record for the project.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/searssunkengarden

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/searssunkengarden/