Brookfield in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Native Plants
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 21, 2026
1. Native Plants Marker
Pollution
Stormwater picks up chemicals and carries them to waterways
Cleaning
Native plants absorb and remove contaminates from stormwater
Preventing
Native plants act as a physical barrier preventing erosion why plant native?
Filtering
Pollutants are absorbed by porous soil maintained by plant roots
Holding
Detention areas help hold stormwater and decrease flooding
why plant native?
• native plants are adapted to the local climate so they can stay healthy and beautiful without any help from irrigation systems or fertilizers
• native plants are effective at filtering out stormwater contaminates
• native plants provide homes and food for many insects and animals
• native plants have been growing here since the last glacier retreated over 10,000 years ago
what's with this sunken area?
• that sunken area is a stormwater detention area, meant to hold water
this page online
• detention areas decrease flooding by holding water and slowly releasing it into the soil
• detention areas capture water contaminates preventing them from reaching rivers and lakes
did you know?
native plants can have roots that grow over 15'deep
Erected by Village of Brookfield.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry.
Location. 41° 48.627′ N, 87° 50.844′ W. Marker is in Brookfield, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Gerritsen Avenue near Sunnyside Avenue. The marker is in Ehlert Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4338 Congress Park Avenue, Brookfield IL 60513, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 21, 2026
2. Native Plants Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Korean War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Recreated Dolomite Prairie (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Historic Grossdale Station (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans Memorial Park (approx. one mile away); Riverside As It Once Was (approx. one mile away); Exploring an Oak Savanna (approx. 1.1 miles away); La Grange Village Hall (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brookfield.
Also see . . . Ehlert Memorial Park. A history of the park from the Village of Brookfield. (Submitted on October 22, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 21, 2026
3. Native Plants Marker, rear view
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 22, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
