Flower‑filled Highway Tunnel Turns Community Hub

The tunnel beneath the highway near North Forest Glen Drive has become a local landmark thanks to a mural that feels like a living garden. A former elementary art teacher, who grew up in the nearby Sauganash area, stepped forward when the Forest Glen Community Club asked for ideas. He sent in four concepts, and one—called Dawn Flower Forest—was chosen to cover a wall under Interstate 94. The artwork features towering native Illinois flowers such as black‑eyed Susans, arranged so they look like a forest that residents can walk through. The scene is set against rolling green hills, blue skies and puffy clouds, giving the space a calm, natural vibe.The artist’s wife suggested making the flowers large enough for people to stroll through, a vision that turned into reality when Chicago artist Cyd Smilie of Arts Alive Chicago encouraged him to apply. Smilie, who runs a nonprofit that supports neighborhood art projects, had previously mentored him while he studied at Northeastern Illinois University. Together they used a virtual‑reality headset to overlay the design onto the wall, then traced it by hand before painting with acrylic house paint. The mural was a hit. The community club asked the artist to create another piece on the opposite side of the underpass, this time depicting a nighttime forest with moonlight and stars. The new work is scheduled for completion later in the summer. Smilie praised the finished piece, saying it matched the club’s desire for a timeless, nature‑focused artwork that celebrates local life.