Sasaki is leading the park’s redesign, creating a public garden destination that honors its historic legacy and celebrates a rich horticultural practice. In 2016, the Cantigny Foundation initiated Project New Leaf, a five-year revitalization effort to enhance almost every area of the park. 

Phase one improved the visitor experience and included careful renovation of the Cantigny’s numerous gardens. This first phase included the redesign and redevelopment of the display gardens, a new Oak Colonnade, an expanded gathering plaza, and improved circulation and accessibility throughout the park.

A hallmark of the project is the integration of creative engineering solutions with an aesthetic garden experience. The project features a wide range of infrastructure, landscape design, and architectural components, all integrated and serving a common goal to achieve attractive indoor and outdoor environments for recreation, education and the enhancement of natural systems. 

Moving Forward

At the end of the summer, Cantigny Park celebrated completing Phase 2 of the project. The Daily Herald reports that the park’s new, beautiful gardens are coupled with carefully considered historical preservation. 

“We think the finished product is respectful to the original design intent of the garden but re-imagined to provide a more contextually appropriate and immersive experience—a unique drawing card that can engage a broader audience for Cantigny,” Sasaki senior associate Matt Langan told the Herald. 

Matt Lafond, Executive Director of Cantigny Park shared exciting details of Phase 2 with the Herald: