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Chicago’s Rooftop Gardens Are Revolutionizing Green Spaces And You Gotta Check Them Out This Year


The Greenest City of America

Chicago’s been ahead of the game when it comes to green roofs.

The Department of Planning and Development says the city’s got over 500 of these leafy rooftops, at least 13 rooftop farms, and a staggering 5.5 million square feet of green space way above street level.

As of 2025, Chicago boasts over 500 sustainable rooftops, covering more than half a million square meters, including 13 farms. If you have a green thumb, come explore these urban oases.

McCormick Place: Midwest’s Largest Rooftop Farm

This 1900-square-foot rooftop farm is a testament to Chicago’s commitment to sustainability. Established over a decade ago, it produces more than 8,000 pounds of produce annually, including herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and turnips.

The garden includes a microgreens operation and three colonies of honeybees that produce honey. The farm supplies the 23rd Street Café and Market, allowing chefs to create culinary masterpieces with fresh, locally-grown ingredients.

City Hall’s Pioneering Roof Garden

Implemented in 2000, this garden atop the 11-story City Hall building was one of the first of its kind. Home to over 150 plant species, it serves as a living laboratory for studying the benefits of urban green spaces.

The garden has proven to improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. This year, public art installations are planned throughout the garden to enhance its aesthetic appeal and educational value.

The Albert Rooftop Garden

Albert’s rooftop garden, located on the third floor of Hotel EMC2, is a standout feature of the restaurant, embodying Chef Steve Chiappetti’s farm-to-table vision that plays host to a large audience in a vibrant atmosphere.

Part of the restaurant’s Italian-inspired dining concept, this charming 300-square-foot outdoor terrace offers scenic backdrops of Chicago’s cityscape and the kitchen’s thoughtfully crafted dishes straight up fresh.

Lurie Garden at Millennium Park

This 2.5-acre rooftop garden atop Millennium Park’s parking garage is pretty famous for its two main sections: the “light plate” and the “dark plate”.

It showcases native prairie plants and offers a serene escape in the heart of downtown Chicago. Recent expansions have added more native shrubs and trees along Monroe and Columbus streets, enhancing its ecological footprint.

Uncommon Ground

Another notable rooftop garden is Uncommon Ground on Devon Avenue. The place is recognized as the first certified organic rooftop farm in the United States.

It supplies fresh produce to the restaurant below, embodying the farm-to-table concept. Farm tours allow guests to see firsthand how organic produce is cultivated right above their dining experience.

The Rooftop at Whole Foods Market

This 20,000-square-foot rooftop farm sits atop the Whole Foods Market in Lincoln Park. It supplies truly local organic produce to the store below.

Join a cooking class. It’s the best way to utilize ingredients sourced directly from the store’s rooftop garden and savor some green recipes.

Gary Comer Youth Center Roof Garden

Spanning an 8,160-square-foot rooftop garden not only produces fresh vegetables for the center’s café but also serves as an outdoor classroom for local youth.

They even offer programs that integrate math and science into gardening activities, enriching students’ learning experiences.

The post Chicago’s Rooftop Gardens Are Revolutionizing Green Spaces And You Gotta Check Them Out This Year appeared first on When In Your State.



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