St. Charles Park District: New Primrose Farm plaza gives guests a gathering place

Farms, by their very nature, are gathering places – eggs from the hen house, crops from the field. When people want to gather at Primrose Farm, they now have an area they call their own. Nestled behind the big red barn, with a view of the feedlot for the horses and cattle, a spacious plaza bordered by benches and dotted with planters of native plants provides a welcome site to take a break from all the down-on-the-farm fun.

The plaza will serve as the primary gathering place for school groups, Scout groups, families and campers – offering a much-needed protected area near the parking lot but safely away from buses and other vehicle traffic. Furthermore, the plaza will provide a consistent meeting point for weekly drop-in programs and a site for group program introductions.

Previously, the entrance area was susceptible to much flooding. Using a stamped concrete surface, the new structure was created to collect and divert storm water, allowing it to drain more appropriately into the parking area. Mature landscaping, including shade trees, flowering trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses, were incorporated into the overall design.

The plaza stands as a memorial to John H. “Jack” Wessel, who was a dedicated public servant of the St. Charles community, having spent seven years on the St. Charles Park District Foundation Board of Trustees, more than 20 years on the St. Charles Plan Commission and volunteering with the Salvation Army. Wessel passed away in July 2011.

A plaque mounted on a stone column at the center of the plaza further details Wessel’s commitment to the park district and honors him for his perseverance and commitment of service. Jack strongly supported the mission of Primrose Farm and was a founding member of the annual Farm Frolic fundraiser. Because of Jack’s enthusiastic contributions to the improvements at Primrose Farm, future generations will learn and enjoy many facets of day-to-day farm life.

A donation from the Wessel family for the passing of Eileen Wessel, Jack’s wife, enabled the park district to purchase a new information kiosk for the farm plaza. Interpretive signage highlighting the farm’s history will also be on display this spring.

The official dedication of the plaza will take place during the fourth annual Swing Into Summer Barn Dance at 5:30 p.m. May 20.

Barn dances were welcome entertainment for farming communities in the 1930s. This popular event harkens back to that era, with a vintage costume contest, bonfire and pie-baking contest. The dance opens with beginner swing dance lessons, and a food truck will be on site for those who wish to purchase refreshments.

“It is a privilege to be able to honor the Wessel family here at Primrose Farm,” said Alison Jones, manager of farm programs and interpretive services for the park district. “We know Jack would have enjoyed being able to visit with people who take time out to appreciate all the sights and sounds of our working farmstead.”

Also coming this spring, Primrose Farm will be the site of a down-and-dirty event when it collaborates with the staff of Hickory Knolls Discovery Center to celebrate International Mud Day by constructing a giant mud pit where kids – and adults, too – can really connect to Mother Earth. The event takes place from 1 to 2:20 p.m. May 21.

“Children get to enjoy something they probably can’t in their own backyards, and adults can think of it as a way to indulge in the kind of spa treatment usually only found at upscale salons,” said Jones.

For more information about Primrose Farm programs and events, contact Alison Jones at 630-513-4374.