With the help of many dedicated residents, local businesses and community organizations, the City of Palos Heights turned a ComEd transformer site into an artistic retreat for community gatherings or individual contemplation. The collection of sculptures and the eco-friendly gardens with vibrant color add dimension to the downtown business district in Palos Heights. This beautiful destination is reachable by car or the Cal-Sag bike trail. There are many dining options and unique specialty stores within a short walking distance. Plan a day or weekend visit to experience the beauty of Palos.

The Art Garden is open daily from dawn to dusk. Whether you visit, volunteer or contribute, please accept our thanks for your support of The Art Garden of Palos Heights. For more information or to contribute, contact the Mayor’s office at 708.480.3003 or visit the city’s website.

Entrance Sign

Designed by Maria DeCaprio-Sunta

Designed by Maria DeCaprio-Sunta, recipient of the 2009 Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award. Maria, a local resident, teaches are privately and at the McCord Gallery and Cultural Center. She also serves on the boards of Palos Fine Arts, the Moraine Valley Community College Foundation and has her own cable TV show, Painting in Palos. She designed the sign to feel organic and embrace the corner site.

Butterfly Girl

Designed by Gregory Johnson

Gregory Johnson’s work is all about sculpting a life in art. He grew up in Palos and now resides in Cummings, Georgia. He has earned a national reputation for his thoughtful representations of heros big and small as well as wildlife. His pieces can be found in public spaces and private collections throughout the country. Butterfly Girl welcomes visitors with an innocent smile.

Peace Cranes

Designed by Linda Fringo

Peace Cranes were designed by Linda Fringo, an art teacher at Palos East Elementary School. Her inspiration came from a trip to Japan with a group of art teachers through the Fullbright Scholarship program. The pair of cranes interact with the elements. The kinetic copper-etched metal plates on the large crane were fabricated by her art students and the smaller crane has chimes that react to the wind.

Purple Coneflower

Designed by Keith Edmier

Keith Edmier was born in Chicago in 1967 and grew up in nearby Tinley Park. He was a formidible sculptor in his teens and was facinated by special-effects. This interest led him to move to Los Angeles to work on films, among them, David Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly. He attended the California Institute of the Arts. He is known for a large-scale botanical, Sunflower, and was excited to bring the native flower of Illinois, Purple Coneflower, to the Art Garden. His diverse installations/sculptures can be found in New York City galleries, international museums and private collections. Visit The Art Garden to view this unique sculpture.

Wavy Column

Designed by John Searles

The Orland.Palos Rotary Club generously donated Wavy Column. John Searles (Michigan artist) frequently works with cut, shaped and welded aluminum which is ideal for outdoor art because the surface forms a natural oxide that protects the underlying metal. John’s diverse body of work includes metal wall sculptures, metal weavings, metal tiles, abstract/dimensional paintings and unique visually-enhanced photography.