October 1, 2024
Lake County and City of Waukegan Celebrate the Tree Planting Program
Yesterday, Lake County and the City of Waukegan gathered with community members to celebrate the first plantings from the Lake County Tree Planting Program. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this project highlights the County’s commitment to sustainability.
“Our goal is to plant 4,000 native trees over 1,200 acres in our communities across the county by the end of 2026,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “The additional green space will allow stormwater to be absorbed, filtering out pollutants and limiting runoff entering sewers, streams and rivers. They will enhance Lake County’s tree canopy and build resilience to the impacts of climate change, help keep our water clean and reduce the effects of flooding. We are incredibly thankful for our local partners who have applied to be part of this program and look forward to others joining us in this important initiative that will have lasting impacts throughout Lake County."
The City of Waukegan was awarded a grant from the County’s Tree Planting Program for 130 new, native trees to be planted along Montesano Avenue in Waukegan. This includes 26 different tree species, including Sycamore, Sugar Maple, Kentucky Coffee Tree, White Oak and Black Walnut.
"I just wanted to say that we are so fortunate to be collaborating with our neighbors and colleagues from the County on this occasion to celebrate the first plantings from the Tree Planting Program. This is a great project to highlight our County's commitment to sustainability and our environment," said Waukegan Mayor Ann B. Taylor. "The Tree Planting Program is part of a larger Lake County Tree Initiative, where we are not only prioritizing the planting of trees but also raising awareness about community and urban forestry. This aligns significantly with the City of Waukegan as we are in continuous conversation and thought on how to stand up to our name as 'The City of Progress,' this is not just a matter of beautification but takes the steps necessary to create a greener and more stable future for the generations to come.”
The environmental impacts from a larger tree canopy include increased shade and lower temperatures. Tree shade break up heat islands, which are common in urban spaces that experience higher temperatures because of buildings and roads. The county will also enjoy improved air quality from trees releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases.
The Tree Planting Program is part of the larger Lake County Tree Initiative, an incredibly innovative project that not only gets new trees planted throughout the county, but also focuses on raising awareness about urban and community forestry. Of the County’s $135.2 million of federal ARPA funds, $2.5 million has been awarded to the Tree Planting Program.
"I’m proud of Lake County's investment in the tree initiative. By supporting the planting of trees all across Lake County, we are taking steps to address carbon mitigation, stormwater management and air quality improvement. We're only able to do this because of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act," said Paul Frank, Chair of the Special Committee on ARPA and Lake County Board Member for District 11. "The funds are being used on a number of our strategic priorities including enhancing public safety and improving the County’s infrastructure to create healthy, inclusive and resilient communities. By enhancing the green infrastructure here and in communities across the county, we will be better equipped to address the impacts of climate change."
The City of Waukegan applied for and was approved in the first round of the Lake County Tree Planting Program applications. They were one of the six divisions of local government, including Antioch Township, Village of Hawthorn Woods, Park District of Highland Park, Village of Lindenhurst and Vernon Hills Park District, awarded grants to plant a total of 403 trees.
“This is a wonderful addition to our county’s tree canopy, and it’s only the first round of the Tree Program,” said Jessica Vealitzek, Chair of the Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee and Lake County Board Member for District 10. “The application period for the second round of the Tree Program is now open. With continued applications, this forward momentum can continue with two planting seasons in 2025. By the end of next year, we could add over 1,000 new trees to our tree canopy countywide.”
The County is currently accepting applications from divisions of local government, including municipalities, townships, park districts, library districts and more, for spring and fall 2025 plantings with the Lake County Tree Planting Program until Tuesday, October 15. The full details of applying to the program are available now.
“I’m incredibly happy that the residents of my district will see such an impact from this project,” said Diane Hewitt, Lake County Board Member for District 8. “The Tree Planting Program not only creates numerous positive changes to our community but also improves resident’s quality of life.”
This program works exclusively with local nurseries and vendors when buying and planting the trees. This allows the funding to stay with local and small businesses in our community. Estimated to take three years, this project will address issues in all four watersheds of Lake County.
“We joined with the City of Waukegan today not only to celebrate a tree planting, but a beautification of a city,” said Lake County Board Vice-Chair Mary Ross-Cunningham. “I strongly urge municipalities, townships and other divisions of local government to take advantage of this unique program by applying now through Tuesday, October 15 for the 2025 spring and fall planting season. By working together, we can create a greener, healthier Lake County.”
Learn more about Lake County’s sustainability initiatives on our website.
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