This year, National Arbor Day is Friday, April 28. For the fourth time, Forest Park will be celebrating by planting a tree. This year, the tree will be planted at the Forest Park Public Library, on the corner of Jackson Boulevard and Des Plaines Avenue.
Community members are invited to join the Village of Forest Park, the Recreation Board and the Forest Park Public Library to watch the Forest Park Public Works Department plant a Cornelian-cherry dogwood tree and enjoy a short ceremony at 9 am on Friday, April 28.
“We’re so honored to have been selected as the recipients of one of the Village’s Arbor Day tree plantings,” said Vicki Rakowski, Library Director at the Forest Park Public Library. “We know this tree is going to provide decades of joy to all who visit the library, and are proud to be included in Forest Park’s efforts to keep our village green and beautiful.”
The Village of Forest Park will be on hand to pass out information and milkweed packets. There will also be a participatory art project that community members are invited to take part in at the Library.
Arbor Day has been celebrated in the US since 1872 and is marked by the planting of trees and emphasizing caring for them as a way to sustainably protect the environment.
In 2020, Forest Park was designated an official Tree City USA community with the Arbor Day Foundation. This designation includes having a tree board or department, putting a tree care ordinance into place, having a community forestry program and annually observing and adopting an Arbor Day proclamation.
“Our annual Arbor Day celebration and Tree City, USA designation means we’re taking action to protect and honor the impact trees have on our health, stormwater management, and property values,” said Forest Park Commissioner Jessica Voogd. “We all benefit from cleaner air, shadier streets, and the aesthetic beauty a well-maintained urban forest provides.”
In previous years, a tree has been planted at the Park District of Forest Park and at Garfield Elementary School.
Tree program info
Village of Forest Park Tree Inventory – GIS Map
2022 Village of Forest Park Urban Forestry Management Plan (PDF)
In 2022, the Village of Forest Park compiled a full GIS Tree Inventory, along with a Forestry Comprehensive Management Plan. The Village is excited to finally be able to tap into these valuable resources and move forward with their tree planting goals. Our seasonal tree planting locations will be based on an arborist’s recommendation and our management plan. Residents may request a tree. There are a limited number of available trees per season, so it is advised to submit a request as early as possible. Please visit The Village of Forest Park’s GIS tree map. The black circles with the blue pins inside represent open planting spaces. If your location falls within these areas, and trees are still available for that season, the Village will plant the tree at no charge.
If the village has reached their limit for that planting season, or your parkway is not listed as an available space, you may request to purchase a tree from the Preferred Species List as set forth in the Urban Forest Management Plan.
Upon approval from the Director of Public Works, the village will plant the tree and provide a watering bag. All those interested should email the Director of Public Works at sstella@forestpark.net. You will be sent a tree list to pick from. Any requests that can not be met that season will be considered for the next planting season in the order they were received.
