Come fall, instead of planting 20 trees around Forest Park like they do every year, the village’s public works department will be putting 40 trees in the ground.
The doubled tree count is financed by Trees Forever’s Illinois Community Canopy-Tree Planting Partnership grant, which was unanimously approved at the last village council meeting on July 14. Commissioner Maria Maxham was absent from the meeting.
Sal Stella, director of public works, said his department usually plants 20 trees every fall. But with the Trees Forever $4,845 grant, they’re able to double that number.
Stella said there are multiple ways his department is deciding where to plant the trees. A few weeks ago, the village started asking for tree requests in its weekly email newsletter.
“If you want a tree in your parkway, look on the GIS map on our website and see if there’s a planting space available,” Stella told the Review.
On the map, black circles with blue pins show where there are open planting plots, where the village will provide and plant a tree at no cost. Residents may request parkway trees outside those areas but will be responsible for the cost.
The village completed a GIS Tree Inventory of 3,335 trees and a Forestry Comprehensive Management Plan in 2022 with financial assistance from a grant. Stella says he uses the GIS system daily and will do so to identify empty plots for trees after Forest Park residents have submitted requests.
“I’ll go to those locations, and I will put a flyer on the door saying that we want to plant a tree at this location if we have their permission,” Stella said.
As in past years, the village will get the trees from Doty Nurseries in Maple Park. In September, the nursery will send out a list of the trees it has available, which residents who requested a tree will get to choose from. Once residents’ location and tree selection are approved, they will be added to this year’s planting schedule. Those whose requests can’t be filled this year will be considered for next season.
After resident requests are filled, Stella will use the GIS to pick trees for the remaining plots.
“I can narrow down block by block the diversity of trees, and I can pick certain trees for certain blocks,” Stella said of the GIS system. He added that, while the nursery has trees like elms and lindens every year, they rotate more ornamental options annually.
Last year, Stella connected with Trees Forever for the first time and was awarded the village’s first grant from the nonprofit. Then, the grant paid to remove 26 unhealthy trees. In March, the village also got a grant from the National Association of Realtors to plant a pollinator and rain garden across the street from Village Hall. This second Trees Forever grant marks the third grant the public works department has received in the past year.
Stella said the village has also not received a couple grants they’ve applied for, like to install pavers or update the fountain at Constitution Court.
“There’s only so many grants that are ever available for public works,” Stella said. “There’s never anything available for building maintenance or equipment or anything like that.”
Stella added that there are also occasionally forgivable money opportunities. For example, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District often provides a portion of the funds required for the village’s green alley projects.
Before Stella was director of public works, he said he doesn’t remember the department applying for as many grants. He added that it helps that the village now contracts a company to help them write grants.