Environmental Stewardship
Urban Forestry

Leadership and Policy

As responsible environmentally conscious modern citizens, residents might expect to have tree-lined streets, and discover that many cities in the United States have “tree policies” of some sort. In West Chicago’s Municipal Code, one may find not only the definition of the parkways, but also specific instructions on types of tree allowed along with their placement: trees not susceptible to disease, and those that are not prone to making large messes (like mulberry trees) as well as a variety of plantings are important. When the Dutch Elm disease hit the United States 50 years ago, many cities lost hundreds of side-by-side-planted trees that lined their streets. At one point in West Chicago’s history, homeowners were expected to share the cost of the tree plantings and maintenance in addition to their property tax obligation, but currently the City pays this cost. So, how did West Chicago get such a tree policy?

In 1868 some land owners (Joseph and Mary McConnell, John Elliott, Edward Rees, Philip McGrath, Richard Murphy, Mary Lynch, Daniel Healy, Michael Cary and Mary Parkison) gave land for Arbor Avenue.

As they gifted this land, they included these stipulations in the legal document:

…reserving and stipulating that all the trees standing and growing within the bounds of said described new road shall be reserved and preserved alive and growing except a space in the center of said road two rods wide for a carriage way be cleared and graded, hereby decreeing that no person, shall have the right to cut down, dig up or wantonly mutilate said trees, but shall preserve them to ornament and beautify said Avenue.

145 years later West Chicago is still benefiting from their foresight. The City is very intentional about maintaining a diversified tree stock, replacing damaged or diseased trees, and identifying areas where the addition of a new tree is appropriate and makes landscape sense. By doing so, it keeps its tree stock healthy and, if done regularly, reduces the high cost of replacing a large number in one calendar year.

Landscape Standards Ordinance Related to Tree Stock Infested, Diseases, Dead, and/or Dying Trees

The devastation inflicted to West Chicago’s tree stock by the Emerarld Ash Borer, and the resulting loss of trees from its activity, caused many of our tree-lined streets to have suddenly been stripped.

In 2011, once the discovery was made, the City took swift action. City crews immediately removed the trees before female beetles were able to lay any new eggs, spreading infestation, and an Ash tree inventory which identified approximately 1,992 parkway Ash trees, was completed on all City properties and rights-of-way.

An action plan was created to minimize environmental and financial impact of this threat to West Chicago’s urban forest. Treating those larger, mature trees that could still be saved was part of the plan. City Council approved a contract with Emerald Tree Care, LLC for professional services related to the 2011 EAB Insecticidal Treatment Program.

A similar program, at the same unit pricing, was offered to residents, businesses, and/or property owners by Emerald Tree Care, under a separate contract agreement.