Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative

10/19/2026

Nearly a full year ago already, at its October 28, 2025 meeting, City Council approved An Ordinance Amending Chapter 284 Of the Codified Ordinances of The City of Berwyn, Illinois, To Clarify The Duties Of The City Tree Board.

This Wednesday night that newly reconstituted Tree Board will hold its first-ever meeting.

October 21st, 2026 - 7:00pm
Berwyn City Hall Conference Room
6700 W. 26th Street, 2nd Floor - Berwyn, IL 60402

The meeting will also be livestreamed here:
https://boxcast.tv/view/102126---berwyn-tree-board-meeting-zq1aobuqselutmeohk2g

Public announcement here: https://www.berwyn-il.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/2270/18

Agenda (PDF): https://www.berwyn-il.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/7891

The Agenda for this meeting:

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call/ Introductions
Ill. History and Review of Tree Board Ordinance
IV. Designate Officers
A. Chair
B. Vice Chair
C. Secretary
V. Establish Goals:
A. Tree Assessment Process
B. Tree Inventory - Updated
C. Regular Communication with Berwyn Tree Board and Public Works
VI. Next Meeting Date
VII. Open Forum/ Public Comment
VIII. Motion to Adjournment

For background, the updated City Tree Board ordinance is online here: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/berwyn/latest/berwyn_il/0-0-0-28734

10/16/2026

Tomorrow! Saturday, October 17. 10 AM - noon.

A great fall volunteer opportunity: Help the Berwyn Park District and The Morton Arboretum plant more trees in Proksa Park!

Tools will be provided! If you can't sign up online, it will be possible to sign waivers at the event. Just show up!

Let’s turn over a new leaf this Oaktober! Join us for a tree-mendously fun day of digging and planting as we add fresh roots to our parks.

Saturday, October 17th from 10AM - 12PM

Meet us at Proksa Park on the North Side of the building on Wisconsin Avenue.

Sign up at the link below:
https://forms.gle/1fqRMkWuUXUsbBsD6

10/13/2026

Our monthly Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative meeting will be held this week on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

We will be meeting in north Berwyn at St. Mary of Celle Church, located at the corner of 14th St. and Euclid Ave.

Our meeting space will be one of the classrooms attached to the church building, room number 502. The best way to get to 502 is to enter the side door on Euclid Ave. This is the door with the concrete ramp that is near the street. If street parking appears limited, feel free to use the church parking lot, which can be accessed from either Euclid or Wesley Ave. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Regular meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm.

Partial proposed draft Agenda for this Thursday:

City Arborist updates
Tree Board updates
Trees with Xs, removal of healthy trees
FOIAs (fill some out during the meeting?)
Events & outreach opportunities
- Berwyn Park District tree planting Sat., 10/17, 10 AM Proksa Park

If you have an agenda item, please let us know. We look forward to seeing everyone this month!

10/11/2026

This coming Saturday: Let's plant some trees!

Let’s turn over a new leaf this Oaktober! Join us for a tree-mendously fun day of digging and planting as we add fresh roots to our parks.

Saturday, October 17th from 10AM - 12PM

Meet us at Proksa Park on the North Side of the building on Wisconsin Avenue.

Sign up at the link below:
https://forms.gle/1fqRMkWuUXUsbBsD6

09/20/2026

09/15/2026

Free oak saplings 🪴 are available at MWRD water reclamation plants, including in Stickney at 6001 W. Pershing Rd., every Wednesday through Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.

🌳 Help us Restore the Canopy by planting a free native oak sapling from the MWRD. Trees help improve air quality, provide wildlife habitat and keep neighborhoods cooler.

There’s still time to pick up a free sapling at an MWRD water reclamation plant. Saplings are available every Wednesday through Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.

🪴 Calumet Water Reclamation Plant
400 E. 130th St.,

🪴 Egan Water Reclamation Plant
550 S. Meacham Road,

🪴 Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant
1220 Sycamore Ave.,

🪴 Kirie Water Reclamation Plant
701 West Oakton St.,

🪴 O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant
3500 Howard St.,

🪴 Stickney Water Reclamation Plant
6001 W. Pershing Road,

Learn more: https://mwrd.org/community-action/native-landscaping/restore-canopy

09/15/2026

Our monthly Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative meeting will be held this week on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

Note the location!
Starting with this meeting, we will be at our fall and winter meeting location in north Berwyn at ** St. Mary of Celle Church **, located at the corner of 14th St. and Euclid Ave.

Our meeting space will be one of the classrooms attached to the church building, room number 502. The best way to get to 502 is to enter the side door on Euclid Ave. This is the door with the concrete ramp that is near the street. If street parking appears limited, feel free to use the church parking lot, which can be accessed from either Euclid or Wesley Ave.

Regular meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm.

If you have an agenda item, please let us know.

We look forward to seeing everyone this month!

09/14/2026

“In terms of impacts on human health, trees in urban areas have also been shown to be substantially more important than rural trees due to their proximity to people and the benefits they have of removing air pollution by physically intercepting particulate matter and absorbing gasses through their leaves.”

Escaping into nature has become a solace for many of us during the last few years. Getting away from the busyness of life, quieting our mind, and being present in the moment, whether to watch and hear the leaves dance in the...

09/13/2026

“The study coauthors underscore an often-overlooked point: Planting trees and increasing tree canopy are not the same. While young saplings take years to develop broad, leafy crowns, mature trees already provide extensive shade and cooling. Losing those trees — to disease, storms or development — can erase decades of canopy growth almost overnight.”

Study tracked association between death rates and tree canopy changes across 11 years in Chicago.

07/19/2026

“A tree that is under stress because of improper placement and planting will be prone to more problems.”

There is not one generic method to treat all trees that are diseased or struggling because there are many variables that can contribute to a tree’s health.