Hidden Landscape Gems The Sunken Garden at Phillips Park

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

The Sunken Garden Phillips Park, Aurora

by Heather Prince Tucked away on the east side of Aurora is the crown jewel of its park system, Phillips Park. Its 325 acres include a zoo, 18-hole golf course, aquatic center, dog park, skate park, plus a man-made lake, trails, and a lovely formal sunken garden next to the Visitors Center. When you visit, take a peek into the center to view the locally famous mastodon bones that were found when the lake was dug in 1934 as part of the WPA program. The rolling hills are crowned by oak forest and you may hear a peacock call from the zoo grounds as you explore the park. There’s a lot to discover in Phillips Park, but one place to linger is the sunken gardens.

As you come around the curve of the lane, the war memorials catch your eye before you see the large, dramatic threetiered concrete fountain splashing at the center of sunken formal rectangular beds. It calls for you to leave the car and descend the steps to enjoy colorful plantings filled with annuals and perhaps find a seat on a convenient bench to watch the birds glide through the fountain’s spray. Knock Out roses add perfume as well as thoughtfully planted annuals like flowering tobacco. Sculpted junipers provide drama and punctuate the lawn for an evergreen accent and winter interest. At each corner, a lovely female sculpture represents each season and is centered before a backdrop of tall switch grass. The paths follow the strong rectilinear sight lines, and you might find small children running along them chasing a butterfly or two.

The Sunken Garden, Phillips Park, www.aurora-il.org/252/Sunken-Garden

Entry: free.

Originally planned and laid out by Ray C. Moses in the 1930s, 2002 saw a complete renovation of the garden that also added the sculpted fountain and statues representing the four seasons at each corner. The gardens were another WPA project, and Moses cited his vast knowledge of formal garden design passed to him by his father, George, formerly a gardener at the estates of English nobility, as inspiration. Ray Moses was known to take great pride in the garden and would personally design the carpet bedding plantings to mark holidays and special occasions. During World War II the plantings included tributes to the armed services, especially the Army and Navy and buying war bonds. The Moses family has a long history with the Aurora parks organization, a Moses has been employed as the Director of Parks from 1910 to 1984.

The sunken gardens offer a snapshot of European-style garden design with strong axis points that balance the weight of the center fountain and the accent sculptures. If you’re looking for inspiration for formal garden design or need an example to demonstrate to a client, these sunken gardens are lovingly maintained. It’s also a magical little spot off the beaten path to relax to the music of the fountain and enjoy the visual feast of the flowers.