Western Springs Defends Planned Removal of Keebler Tree

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Many Western Springs residents feel a sentimental attachment to what is known as the Keebler tree at Prospect Avenue and Reid Street. Not so much for the village's insurer, which is recommending its removal as part of a construction project.

At this week's Village Board meeting, officials made the case for why the northern catalpa tree needs to be cut down. At the same time, they said they understood residents' feelings and were open to ideas about what could replace the tree.

The tree is thought to be 80 to 100 years old, according to the village. A 1939 aerial photo obtained by the village shows a dark spot where officials believe the tree was, next to what was then Vaughn's Nursery.

These days, it's a residential neighborhood. Cathy Blanford, who lives on the corner where the tree is, is among those who oppose its removal. The village said it received more than 30 communications from residents about the tree, mostly in opposition.

Because the tree is under power lines, it has been regularly trimmed by ComEd. It is being removed as part of the Prospect Avenue road construction project.

"Over the last 50 to 70 years, it has really taken a beating from ComEd tree trimming to keep it away from power lines," said Casey Biernacki, the village's assistant director of municipal services.

When the village recently conducted an inventory of its trees, the Keebler tree was rated a 5 out of 6, with 6 being a dead tree.

Since residents started objecting to the tree's removal earlier this month, the village consulted with its insurer, Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency, or IRMA.

"IRMA has reviewed and recommended that the tree be removed in order to protect the village and its residents from safety and financial liabilities," Biernacki said.

He said the village is looking at a number of replacement options for the catalpa, looking at nine to 12 types of trees. The village, he said, is also open to ideas from residents such as take-home pieces of wood from the Keebler tree and a wood-carved monument at the intersection.

The village is planning an open house for residents' feedback from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the site of the tree.

Village President Alice Gallagher agreed with the recommendation to remove the tree.

"No one here wants to take down a tree. That's not what we set out to do, neither the board nor the staff," she said. "In this instance, there really is no viable option. The tree is suffering. It's distressed. The work at the intersection will cause it to undergo more stress. It will impact the root system, and it is just a liability."

Gallagher said she has been at the tree to discuss the issue a number of times.

"Kids would climb all over it," she said. "It's too dangerous for us to take any kind of chances. Trees do fall down."