Joliet Nabs National Honor For Trees

JOLIET, IL — The City of Joliet recently celebrated Arbor Day on Friday, April 24, following a special designation by the National Arbor Foundation. A tree was planted at the city's West Side Public Works plant to commemorate the day and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day according to a press release from Steve Jones, interim city manager. A tree planting ceremony planned for District 86’s Woodland School will take place in the fall due to COVID-19.

The National Arbor Day Foundation recently recognized the City of Joliet for achieving the designation of “Tree City USA” for the 29th consecutive year for accomplishments in 2019. One-thousand trees planted last year increased the canopy of the urban forest, which provides the benefit of reducing atmospheric carbon by 65,000 pounds citywide, the press release states. Joliet was awarded a U. S. Forest Service grant of $15,000 for tree planting-administered by The Morton Arboretum and a $25,000 CN/America in BloomBeautification Grant to be completed in 2020.

According to the release, City Forester Jim Teiber will work with the Wesmere and Neufairfield Home Owner’s Associations, and with the Joliet Leadership Coalition on Joliet’s east side, to distribute sapling trees to encourage tree planting on private property. Trees were donated by The Fields, D Ryan Tree and Landscape LLC and the City of Joliet.

The city planted 1,000 trees on public property in 2019 as part of the fifth year of a 10-year contract growing program, according to the release, but the greatest percentage of trees in Joliet are actually on private property. Experts estimate that 80 percent of the urban forest in cities is in residential yards. Planting and caring for trees in private yards benefits all residents.

According to the press release, research has shown that spending time outside in green areas leads to better overall physical and mental health. Walking along streets with trees reduces blood pressure and stress and has been linked to extending life spans among residents who recreate in such areas.