Chicago Public Schools Opens ADA Accessible Garden at Southside School

CHICAGO – Bees will be buzzing as native flowers, plants, and fruit take root at Southside Occupational Academy, where a fully ADA-accessible garden will serve as an outdoor classroom for students with disabilities.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) District officials, school leaders, and community partners gathered Friday to celebrate the grand opening of the garden, marking a significant milestone in the District’s commitment to inclusive education and real-world learning opportunities for all students.

“It is one of the District’s highest priorities to ensure students with disabilities have access to the same high-quality learning and growth opportunities as their peers,” said Interim CEO/Superintendent Dr. Macquline King. “The opening of this garden at Southside Occupational Academy reflects the dedication of our administrators, school leaders, and community partners to building a more equitable and inclusive future for every student.”

The garden is designed as a true extension of the classroom and features ADA-compliant seating, raised garden beds, and outdoor learning stations, all tailored to meet the diverse needs of Southside’s student population. The new space is designed to provide hands-on learning and foster meaningful community engagement, while removing barriers to accessibility for students at the school, which is a transition center that supports students with disabilities ages 18 to 22.

“This garden is more than a beautiful space – it’s an accessible classroom where every student can learn, explore, and connect,” said Southside Occupational Academy Principal Jennifer Bollinger. “It gives our students opportunities to engage with hands-on lessons that build independence and job skills, while also creating a welcoming place that brings our school and community together.”

Interim CEO/Superintendent King and other leaders toured the garden on Friday, stopping at demonstration tables to learn more about the horticulture program, and the academic and social impact of the garden on students. The new garden means there will now be space for them to learn how to harvest honey from a professional beekeeper, grow their own produce, and maintain native horticultural species with a helping hand from a master gardener.

Marcos Diaz, who is in the 12th grade and is participating in the Community Horticulture internship at Southside Occupational Academy hub, said growing plants and flowers is not just about making the school look nice.

“Growing fruits and vegetables teaches us about food and teaches us different work skills,” he said. “Gardens bring peace to our school and our community.”

The vision for bringing the garden to Southside has been years in the making, first coming together when Josh Long, who is now Chief of CPS’ Office for Students with Disabilities, was principal at the school.

“Seeing it come to life is not only a significant step forward for our work at the District level, but also deeply personal,” Long said. “I’ve witnessed firsthand how much this kind of space can mean to our students, and my hope is that this is just one of many milestones to bring us closer to a system where all students have the best possible opportunities to learn and thrive.”

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