Spring brings out the best color at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. The 500-acre former estate is filled with gardens, picnic areas, a museum and even a golf course with natural areas that burst with Mother Nature’s beauty.
Guests with colorblindness can now enjoy all of that splendor as Cantigny begins providing access to EnChroma glasses at no charge.
“We’re committed to making everyone’s park experience as rich and complete as possible,” says Alicia Catalano, Cantigny Park membership and retail operations manager in a news release. “It’s exciting to know that our colorblind visitors can now walk through our gardens and museums and appreciate the brilliant colors that most of us take for granted.”
Glasses are available in sizes that will fit adults and children, and can be used with or without regular prescription glasses.
Borrowing the glasses is free, but guests will be asked to submit a $75 refundable deposit.
“We applaud Cantigny Park for giving those with color vision deficiency the ability to more fully experience their colorful gardens, exhibits and events with EnChroma glasses,” says Erik Ritchie, EnChroma’s chief executive officer in the release. “We hope that their example inspires more organizations to help us bring a world of more vibrant color to the colorblind.”
EnChroma reports that the genetic red-green colorblindness affects 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women. The enhanced glasses help guests with red-green colorblindness see the colors of the grounds with a greater range of variety.
The glasses can be used inside the museum or on the grounds of the park.
Details
Cantigny Park
- Where: 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton
- Hours of admission: 9 a.m.-sunset through April 30, 7 a.m.-sunset May 1-Sept. 30
- Cost: Free admission, Fees to park vary
My husband is color blind. We want to try the glasses