The Riverfront Museum Education Garden was built with an environmental grant from Illinois American Water Company and will include native plants, vegetables and herbs, and an example of a bioswale – a channel filled with gravel or vegetation that filters silt and pollution from rainwater runoff.
“Education is a key piece to solving today’s environmental issues. We are excited to support the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s education garden; we know it will help grow our future environmental stewards and as a result protect our precious water source,” said Karen Cotton, Illinois American Water’s environmental grant program coordinator.
The museum’s education garden was designed and assembled with assistance from Peoria Garden Club, Good Earth Landscaping and community volunteers. The museum will also be partnering with Bradley University Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education and the River Action League to create and teach program content.
“The garden will provide numerous education opportunities – giving us the chance to demonstrate many of the water conservation concepts we teach with our Illinois River Lab and steam table programming. We’ll be able to show the effects of watering versus relying on rain as the only water source for native and non-native plants,” said Ann Schmitt, VP of programs at the museum.
The museum’s garden will also contain a butterfly garden within the main garden to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, emphasizing their importance to our ecosystem.
Riverfront Museum
Peoria Riverfront Museum features changing art, science and local history exhibits, a planetarium, giant screen theater and IHSA interactive gallery. We are the collaborative effort of eight organizations, with nearly 500 years of combined experience educating Central Illinoisans. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning for all – connecting art, history, science and achievement through collections, exhibitions and programs. Smithsonian affiliated. For more info visit: RiverfrontMuseum.org.