For many years Chicago's motto has been "Urbs in horto" or "city in a garden." Today, as one of the first U.S. cities to incorporate environmentally-friendly strategies and technologies into public buildings, the city showcases two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, over 250 public and private green roofs, 552 parks, 7,300 acres of parkland, 33 beaches, 31 miles of lakefront and 18 miles of bike paths.
Chicago's Notebaert Nature Museum inspires visitors to learn about and care for nature by offering public exhibitions and programs that foster green living by restoring local ecosystems through conservation science. Expect to find incomparable collections of nearly 250,000 specimens, including plants, animals, fossils, and minerals. The most popular exhibition is the Butterfly Haven where over 1,000 butterflies flutter by visitors, 75 species on any given day. But the largest exhibit is outdoors, from the top of the roof to under the prairie, the blooming greening project is a showcase of eco-friendly, energy-efficient green technology which is a winning combination of beauty and brains!
Another famed Chicago attraction is a world leader in conservation. The Brookfield Zoo's motto is "Inspiring Conservation Leadership." The Zoo's long-term focus is on animal well-being, education, science, and field work while ensuring that natural resources—including plants, animals, water, even whole ecosystems—will be available for future generations. Visit the zoo and find exhibits, lectures and exciting programs that educate the community on being as green as possible in their daily lives.
Chicago offers visitors and residents alike a beautiful Green City Market, the city's only sustainable green market, which is a proactive venue with over 45 sustainable or certified organic farmers and thousands of shoppers. Green City Market features chef cooking demos, the "Sprouts" educational program for kids, "Breakfast Club" discussions about the link between well-being & good nutrition, a membership base that funds our outreach and educational initiatives, a dedicated staff of volunteers, an inviting ambiance, a sense of community and much more.