city hall rooftop garden
CITY HALL ROOFTOP GARDEN, DOWNTOWN
High atop City Hall in Chicago lies a lush green oasis in a desert of steel and concrete. The green roof on city hall is home to a great variety of ornamental plants, bushes and even two trees.
The city of Chicago has the great fortune of a strong environmental presence at various levels of city government, including Mayor Daley. The city has made funding and support available to people and organizations for many green initiatives, including green roofs and community gardens. The example was set with the establishment of a lush, beautiful garden complete with bee hives on the roof of City Hall itself. The City Hall green roof features 20,000 plants of over 100 species chosen specifically for the harsh environment of the roof. The bee hives produce honey which makes a unique gift for visiting dignitaries.
Like all green roofs, the City Hall rooftop garden improves air quality, conserves energy, reduces storm water runoff and helps lessen the urban heat island effect.