For nearly 200 years, people have gathered on the McLean County Courthouse Square, now known as the Museum Square, for public demonstrations. This year, the McLean County Museum of History and the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District (BNWRD) are partnering to create a different kind of demonstration — one that highlights the sustainable use of native plants in urban landscapes.
After months of planning with various stakeholders, the work started this week. Penn Landscaping removed the yew bushes planted over a decade ago and worked the soil on Tuesday. The project’s next phase includes adding 15 different native species in the mulched beds around the Square.
“Projects such as this reflect the District's ongoing commitment to utilize nature to enhance the overall ecosystem of McLean County for generations to come,” says Director of the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District, Tim Ervin. “It demonstrates the effective use of native species as a sustainable water-quality improvement strategy, and serves as an educational resource by providing residents with visible examples of ecological best practices — as well as opportunities for learning and observation.”
Torii Moré, a curator at the museum, adds, “It feels so fitting that we have this incredible opportunity to introduce such diversity to our downtown landscape during the 250th anniversary of this country's founding. These plants were part of ecosystems in this area for thousands of years, and we are proud to showcase native plant landscaping to the public.”
An interactive tour will launch in the spring on Tourient, a web-based mobile tour platform that the museum already uses. It will help visitors identify and learn about the plants.
The Museum first planted native species at the corners of the Square in 2024, thanks to a grant from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. “That first round of funding allowed us to prove the concept. We’ve seen a variety of pollinators enjoying the plants, from leafcutter bees on the columbine to monarchs circling the square,” Moré notes.
BNWRD’s support empowered the museum to expand upon that initial effort. “We couldn’t do it without our partners at BNWRD and Penn Landscaping,” says Museum Executive Director Julie Emig. “As an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit, we rely on the support of our members and our community.”
This landscaping overhaul is not a part of Bloomington’s streetscape initiatives. However, city staff and the architects of the streetscape plan, CMT, participated in the planning process to ensure compatibility with future development.
“These plants shall endure as a testimony to the power of collaboration, and to the wisdom of nature and the land in which we now inhabit,” says Micaela Harris, the museum’s director of communications. “Joey Santore once said, ‘You want to learn about your place? You want to take pride in your place? Look for the plants that grow there; they are what make that place what it is.’”
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