Reflections Water Gardens, a waterscaping specialist, has been awarded the 2026 Platinum Award from the professional association, Landscape Illinois, the highest honor in the special features category. The recognition comes for the company’s work on a residential project titled ‘Puttin’ On the Ritz.’

This marks the second time the company has received the top-tier award. Puttin On the Ritz, located in St Charles, Illinois, was completed in partnership with Platinum Pool of Wheeling, Illinois. The collaboration transforming a standard backyard into a resort-style retreat inspired by the Ritz-Carlton Orlando.

Key features include a limestone grotto with a 13-foot-wide waterfall, secondary cascades and a professional lighting system. To ensure structural stability, the team anchored the feature using epoxy-coated rebar and 40 cubic yards of concrete backfill.

The project previously received a Gold Award from the state industry association earlier this year.

In addition to the Platinum Award, Reflections Water Gardens received a Silver Award from Landscape Illinois for its consulting role on the ‘Land of Natura’ project in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The company served as a technical consultant for client, Natura Destinations, helping engineer what is cited as the world’s largest naturally filtered water park.

The five-acre, 20-foot-deep swimming pond operates with a chemical-free system incorporating 4.9k tons of gravel and more than 8.5k feet of piping. Reflections Water Gardens states that the project was completed for the attraction’s public opening in June 2023, overcoming pandemic-related material shortages.