Mt. Prospect arborists want to spread word about trees

“Urban forestry” may not be a common topic of conversation in the suburbs, but Mount Prospect leaders would like to change that.

In the wake of a report that showed that the village’s tree management is producing positive results, local arborists are making themselves available for community presentations. They want to spread the word about the benefits the village enjoys because of its tree-management program.

The report, compiled by New York-based consultant, Urban Forestry LLC, concluded that Mount Prospect’s 23,724 parkway trees have an appraised value of about $118 million. The report also states that the village’s tree-care efforts generate a return of $2.29 in environmental benefit for each dollar spent on maintenance.

Mount Prospect officials say that those figures are particularly impressive because the village’s trees have faced a variety of challenges in recent years, including Dutch Elm disease and the destructive emerald ash borer, an insect that kills ash trees.

To raise awareness about Mount Prospect’s urban forest, arborists from the forestry/grounds division of the public works department will be available in January and February to speak to groups in the community. Those interested should call public works at (847) 870-5640 by Jan. 10.