2026 Perennial Plant Association Landscape Design Award of Merit

We're thrilled to announce that the Millennium Park Cloud Gate Grainger Plaza Gardens has received a 2026 Perennial Plant Association Landscape Design Award of Merit!

Presented at last week's 2026 Perennial Plant Association Symposium in East Lansing, Michigan, this award recognizes the transformation of the landscape surrounding Chicago's iconic Cloud Gate sculpture. In place of rigid borders and struggling planting that once limited the sculpture’s symbolic reach, the design introduces dynamic plantings that enrich the visitor experience and reinforce the park’s role as a botanically forward destination. Thoughtful plant selection extends the sculpture’s “cloud” theme into the landscape through soft textures, airy seedheads, and an ethereal color palette. As the staghorn sumac layer matures, it will be selectively pruned into cloud-like forms, further reinforcing this motif over time. The Gardens’ diverse palette of perennials, bulbs, shrubs, and trees forms a layered composition that ebbs and flows throughout the year. The result offers an immersive brush with nature for millions of visitors to enjoy.

Mark Jirik and Jenna Jones attend this year's symposium to accept the award alongside Kathryn Deery from the Millennium Park Foundation and Kasey Eaves from Vivant Gardening Services.

Congratulations to the entire project team and to all of this year's outstanding award recipients.