Lake Ellyn Park 2013 Master Plan

3. the vision
Ruth Candy Parkway integrated water landscape
The landscape in the Ruth Candy Parkway provides an
opportunity to combine and stack several important
landscape, use, hydrology, and aesthetic functions into a
single concept. This concept involves re-shaping a portion
of the parkway and reinforcing it with ornamental stone
interplanted with perennials as a meandering, (mostly)
dry overflow spillway leading to a channel/water feature.
The low-flow sub-surface discharge could be daylit as it
moves through the parkway, coordinated with the sizing
requirements outlined in the Village’s recent engineering
report to maximize efficiency of this part of the regional
drainage system. This daylit section would be both
functional and ornamental; water could be re-circulated
into the channel (using renewable solar or wind power),
and a walking path, decorative footbridges, plantings, and
other landscape enhancements added. The north face of
the dam would be planted with naturalized native grasses
and wildflowers, and two large areas of turf would remain
as casual play space. This would provide a much more
distinctive northern park gateway and entrance feature,
connect more directly to the Sam Perry Preserve, provide
year-round passive play space, and serve valuable water
functions as well.
a precedent image represents the character of the channel and
bridge crossings
Close up view of Ruth Candy Parkway integrated water landscape
44 Glen Ellyn Park District