The various wetlands and water management strategies employed have a positive impact on the health of the entire community.  South of the Arts Block Extension, water filtration, pH and nutrient balancing, and retention in carefully crafted earth forms serve to facilitate a series of wetlands designed to foster the growth of rare native species. These demonstration gardens are both an educational resource and a propagation / repatriation mechanism for indigenous plants whose native habitats have been nearly extirpated in Cook County.

Other landscape communities throughout the plan follow similar approaches.  Mesic sand and loam prairies, riparian habitats, deciduous forested areas, shade gardens, and savannah habitats have been provided, closely paralleling the pre-settlement lakefront communities that would have existed in this part of Chicago.  These naturalistic landscapes are contrasted with small formal areas, such as the manicured lawn fronting the base of the Beacon of Hope.