The 2026 Garden Walk was filled with beautiful gardens, creative spaces, and unexpected works of art, including the return of the Forest Park Arts Alliance Garden Pole installation. Thanks to the help of the Park District of Forest Park, these unique pieces found a new home and brought an extra layer of creativity to this year’s walk.
Originally displayed at Constitution Court, the garden poles are a wonderful example of how public art can transform a space and invite the community to slow down, look closer, and appreciate the creativity around them. Surrounded by gardens, plants, and visitors throughout the day, the poles felt right at home as part of this year’s Garden Walk.
The installation featured four unique pieces from local artists:
Garage Organic by Anthony Izzo
Using materials found in the H&R Auto garage that the Park District moved into, Anthony Izzo transformed everyday objects into a one-of-a-kind garden sculpture. The piece incorporates items including nuts, bolts, chicken wire, zip ties, and leftover rubber squares from the construction of the Forest Park Aquatic Center splash pad. Izzo’s vision was to create something that looked almost alive, as if it might “burst out of the ground” and become part of the landscape itself.
Peppy Petals by Tamara Koransky
Bright, bold, and full of personality, Tamara Koransky’s floral-inspired garden pole celebrates the joy of color. The Oak Park artist and elementary school teacher created the piece with inspiration from her love of floral mandala artwork, spending more than 12 hours painting the vibrant flowers that cover the pole.
Anniversary by Steve Metro
Created by retired engineer and lifelong woodworker Steve Metro, this red, white, and blue piece commemorates America’s 250th anniversary. The twisted wood elements give the sculpture a sense of movement, bringing energy and life to the garden. The piece was donated by Metro to the Forest Park Arts Alliance auction and purchased by Garden Walk organizer Kristen Lyons, who wanted to make sure the community could enjoy this simple yet beautiful creation.
Green Man Exposed by Bridget Lane
Blending handmade ceramics with living greenery, Bridget Lane’s sculpture reflects her passion for bringing art into everyday life. Inspired by her years working with clay, Lane created a piece that celebrates nature, regeneration, and our connection to the environment. She generously donated the garden pole to the Park District of Forest Park.
The Garden Pole installation is a perfect representation of the creativity and community spirit that makes Forest Park special. Whether through gardening, sculpture, woodworking, ceramics, or repurposed materials, these artists remind us that beauty can be found in unexpected places.
A special thank you to the Forest Park Arts Alliance, Anthony Izzo, the Park District of Forest Park, and all of the artists who helped bring this project to life and make the Garden Walk even more inspiring.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible Garden Walk hosts!

This year's walk featured eight stunning private gardens, along with the beautiful grounds at the Forest Park Public Library and the Park District of Forest Park, including the Arts Alliance of Forest Park's Garden Pole installation.
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Every one of these gardens is the result of countless hours of digging, planting, weeding, building, and dreaming. Even more impressive was the warmth and generosity of our hosts, who welcomed hundreds of visitors into their personal spaces with smiles, stories, and a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into creating these special places.
Forest Park gardeners truly embody the DIY spirit. Visitors sampled honey from backyard beehives, tasted homemade pickles and hot sauce, admired one-of-a-kind sculptures and artistic touches, and one garden even happened to feature a delightful teapot collection, a perfect fit for this year's Tea Time in the Garden theme. Each stop reflected the creativity, craftsmanship, and personality of its gardeners, making this year's Garden Walk a wonderful celebration of what makes Forest Park such a unique and inspiring community.

Thank you for opening your gates and sharing your passion with all of us!

As we wrap up another wonderful Garden Walk, we want to thank everyone who helped make the day possible, especially everyone who came out to tour the gardens! Thanks to your support, this was our biggest Garden Walk yet, and we couldn't be more grateful.


Thank you to our incredible volunteers and board members. We couldn’t do it without your time, enthusiasm, and dedication. A special thank you to board member Kirsten Lyons, whose countless hours of work help bring the Garden Walk together, and to our newest board member, Mary, for generously hosting the pre-party for our hosts, sponsors, and volunteers.


A big shout-out to the Forest Park Garden Club for volunteering year after year, contributing to our raffle, and especially to Meghan Hunt, who makes sure every garden host is honored with a special award.


It wouldn't be the Garden Walk without Smokey Joel's! Thank you to Joel, HSFP's Vice President, for returning each year and generously donating the proceeds from the hot dog stand to support the Historical Society.


Thank you to our Tulip Sponsors: Park District of Forest Park, Cardinal Advancement Services, and April Baker Homes. We also appreciate our Booklet Sponsors: AA Rental, SBC Waste Solutions, McAdam, Pollinator Pathways, and Kiwanis.
Finally, thank you to our raffle donors: Michelle Melin-Rogovin, Kiwanis Club of Forest Park, Jennifer Quinlan of Soup & Bread West, and everyone else who helped make this year's raffle such a success.
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It truly takes a community to make the Garden Walk bloom, and we're grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you for making this our biggest and best Garden Walk yet!

Congratulations to our 2026 Garden Walk People's Choice Award winners, Christian Altman & Enrique Zuniga!
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They first opened their garden for the Garden Walk in 2019, and wow has it grown since then! We were so thrilled to welcome them back for a second Garden Walk and even more excited to see them take home this year's People's Choice Award. Their hard work has truly blossomed. Congratulations!