The Franklin Park Village Board passed an ordinance at its Feb. 6 meeting that set new regulations for tree preservation, planting and maintenance in the village.
For example, the new rules prohibit trees that have “commonly acknowledged high maintenance and undesirable characteristics,” including some species of maple and elm; all species of willow, mulberry, poplar and catalpa trees; and several others.
With spring set to begin March 20, Franklin Park officials have been planting seeds for a new tree management approach.
Last fall, village officials commissioned a study from an Ohio-based environmental consulting firm that recommended a proactive, rather than reactive, method of managing tree resources.
On Oct. 24, Franklin Park dedicated a new village arboretum that earned a Morton Arboretum accreditation for botanic garden standards.
“Franklin Park has long been committed to innovative sustainability practices, and our community shares our vision for a greener, more sustainable future,” Village President Barrett Pedersen said. “We’re proud of our efforts to care for and expand our tree canopy. A diverse urban forest absorbs air pollutants, improves water and soil quality and adds to all our well-being.”
The Tree Inventory and Management Plan was prepared by the Davey Resource Group, of Kent, Ohio, at a cost of $20,643, and $15,000 of which was covered by a grant from the Morton Arboretum and its Chicago Region Trees Initiative, according to Franklin Park Village Arborist and Sustainability, Forestry, Parkways and Facilities Director Andy Smolen.
The report, released last November, estimated Franklin Park’s inventoried trees have quantifiable environmental, economic and social benefits worth $71,690 annually.
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The report also stated that 56%t of village-owned trees are rated in fair condition, 40% are in good condition and 4% are in poor or dead condition. Using industry tree diversity standards, the report showed that Franklin Park currently has an overabundance of maple trees.
The Davey report estimated that the labor costs of tree management – up to $250,000 in each of the next four years – would nearly meet or exceed Franklin Park’s budget for those expenses.
The report however, indicates that Franklin Park has an annual tree management budget of $250,000, when the latest village budget, available on the village’s website, lists only $160,000 budgeted and $176,000 appropriated for tree removal, trimming and planting on parkways.
Village officials and the Davey Group declined multiple Pioneer Press requests to comment on the disparity.
Franklin Park since 2012 has been a Tree City USA, a designation from the Arbor Day Foundation, which also bestowed the village its Growth Award in 2021.
Gary Gibula is a freelancer.