Mundelein Park & Recreation District awarded funding to remove invasive species and completes project

Mundelein Park & Recreation District was awarded a $10,000 grant to remove invasive species throughout Leo Leathers Park and Longmeadow Park. These projects were recently completed in 2025.

Funding for this project was provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and USDA Forest Service Eastern Region. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. These funds are administered by The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative.

Mundelein Park & Recreation District used the funds to further enhance the oak/hickory woodland at Longmeadow Park and Leo Leathers Park in Mundelein. The woodlands currently suffer from nonnative plant species, such as buckthorn, garlic mustard, and honeysuckle, which outcompete native plants that oak trees rely on, such as understory shrubs, grasses and wildflowers. These invasive species disrupt the natural balance, preventing oak seedlings from growing and reducing biodiversity. The invasive species removal is one part of the management strategy to help ensure the survival and health of oak forests within Lake County. Invasive species, such as buckthorn, can cause widespread damage in local forests if left unmanaged. Grant funds were also used to plant new trees to grow tree canopy in the community.

“We want to thank Morton Arboretum, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region for helping improve our woodland area at Longmeadow and Leo Leathers Parks,” Mundelein Park & Recreation District Executive Director Ron Salski said. “Clearing invasive buckthorn and planting new trees transformed the woodland areas, improving sightlines, trail conditions and long-term forest health.”

The project efforts to address the oak forest decline in Lake County include restoring fire regimes through controlled burns, managing invasive species, controlling deer populations and engaging in active forest management practices such as selective thinning and planting native oak species to encourage regeneration. Local conservation organizations and government agencies are working together to restore oak savannas and woodlands, maintain biodiversity and mitigate some of the pressures facing these vital ecosystems.

“Improving the distribution of trees and green spaces directly impacts the health and economic outcomes for communities,” Chicago Region Trees Initiative Director Zach Wirtz said. “Projects like this improve quality of life and boost the urban tree canopy’s resilience to threats posed by environmental conditions, pests and diseases.”

For information about The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative, visit mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/chicago-region-trees-initiative.