The holiday season lights sparkle on the corner of 63rd Street and Stony Island Avenue, illuminating a carefully tended garden in front of Hyde Park Academy High School. This vibrant space, featuring trees, trestles, and a small wooden bridge adorned with lights, is the result of a collaborative effort spearheaded by lifelong Woodlawn resident William Hill. Hill, a local artist, has dedicated himself to creating small, nature-based sanctuaries throughout the area.
Approximately seven years ago, the principal of Hyde Park Academy approached Hill, aware of his previous art installations and transformations of neglected spaces into thriving gardens. The principal asked Hill to revitalize a weed-filled, littered quarter-acre of land. Hill, describing the initial state as “so dense that you couldn’t see the front to the back,” readily accepted the challenge. This project, he explains, is an expression of his deep love for Woodlawn, where he graduated from high school in 1969 and currently resides in his grandfather’s house, purchased in 1945.
Initially working alone, Hill cleaned, cleared, and planted evergreens, herbs, and flowers. He collaborated with other area artists to incorporate sculptures and other elements to enhance the garden’s reflective quality. He later incorporated students into the project through an After School Matters program, teaching them not only gardening skills but also about healthy eating and the medicinal properties of plants.
On a recent blustery day, Hill, accompanied by two students, Tamara Moses and Justin Baker, discussed the garden’s impact. Tamara, 15, shared how her perspective shifted from casually littering to actively protecting the space. Justin described the healing qualities of the plants surrounding a concrete Buddha statue, highlighting the garden’s calming effect. Hill emphasized the garden as a safe haven where children can find peace of mind.
The garden also features an old baby grand piano, destined to be transformed into a butterfly sculpture by the students, a large stone acting as a guardian, a Tibetan evergreen tree, and a communal table and chairs used for celebrations like last year’s Juneteenth event. A large, white-painted, light-wrapped wreath showcases Tamara’s artistic talents, providing her with a creative outlet outside of school. For Tamara, who admits to disliking school, the garden and her friends are a vital source of motivation and enjoyment.
Hill expresses pride in transforming a desolate corner into a joyful community space, emphasizing the project’s significance in bringing together students, older residents, and the wider community. He concludes by stating, “That’s really what it is all about.”