Village of Carol Stream awarded urban forestry funding

The Village of Carol Stream was awarded a $20,000 grant to complete a parkway tree inventory and develop a management plan for its urban forest.

The funds were provided by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Core Grant Program, and administered by 6the Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Region Trees Initiative.

"The illage is excited and grateful to receive this funding," said Mayor Frank Saverino. "Carol Stream prides itself on being good stewards of the environment while also remaining fiscally responsible. This grant not only helps us develop and achieve our goals, but also allows us to do so within our means."

The grant will provide Carol Stream a better understanding of the urban forest it manages by reviewing the quantity of trees, their size, condition, species, and more. The inventory will also identify opportunities and inform the development of a comprehensive, long-term urban forest management plan.

The tree inventory, which will be conducted by Great Lakes Urban Forestry Management, is expected to begin sometime in mid-to-late July, 2021. Once completed, work will start on the urban forest management plan.

As part of this process, the village will also develop a new Tree Preservation Ordinance to help codify parkway tree care and management best practices.

"Urban trees are critical infrastructure for a community, and this funding helps to protect one of its most important resources," said Lydia Scott, director of CRTI. "Trees clean our air and water, reduce flooding and heat, improve our mental and physical health, and provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife."

Learn more about the Chicago Region Trees Initiative at chicagorti.org.