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The homeowner remembered the enjoyment of growing up extended to a depth of about eight feet. near a large pond by his parents’ home in Northbrook. Years later, with the On the surface, the clay area looked like just a rough spot on the tear-down and rebuild of his new forever home, he could finally use a portion bottom of the pond, but they quickly discovered that the 10- by 10-foot of his property to recreate the enjoyment of pond life that he loved as a kid, area was not drivable with the skid steer, which began to sink into the soil. while leaving a legacy for his family. Crushed stone and gravel were laid to help stiffen the clay, but that didn’t

The 20,000-square-foot pond is pastoral, with 16,000 feet of usable provide much help either. Eventually, the entire space was dug out by water space and a private, 46- by 23-foot sandy beach. Instead of machine and filled with crushed stone. ramping up the liner to form the beach space, it was kept flat with the Liner was then laid over the entire bottom surface of the pond and a big sculpted shelving and held in place with a retaining wall. The space was loader back-filled the area with gravel by conveyor belt. The bottom of the back-filled with several semi loads of sand and tapers into the water, pond and base for the retaining wall were covered within four hours. making it comfortable to swim into the pond as the grade slopes to its The pond is a self-contained system with an efficient, 4,000-squaredeepest depth of nine feet. foot filter zone located off to one side and dotted with walkable boulders

Built to swimming pool code for diving, the recreation pond’s shape and aquatic plants. Above-ground mechanicals were installed on the emulates a clover leaf with the retaining wall around the entire perimopposite side of the pond and hidden from view among plants and shrubs. eter. The retaining wall also provided definition for the pond’s inner Today, the serene, pastoral four-season pond is reminiscent of a contours and a marking point in planning for depth. Glacial erratic boulNorthwoods lake, surrounded by trees and plant life, and providing a ders dot the shoreline and various areas within the pond. home for fish and wildlife. Pour a cup of coffee and sit a spell on the

Contouring and sculpting the inner pond was not without its challengAdirondack beach chairs or grab a pair of binoculars and bird watch from es. While digging for mechanical and PVC plumbing installation, the crew a nearby bench. This peaceful place is now enjoyed by at least two genuncovered a sizable surface space of bentonite clay, which they soon found erations of the homeowner’s family – and likely more as he recaptures a fond memory and shares it as a legacy with those he loves. The Landscape Contractor 9