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Environmental Commission outlines outreach, native planting and cleanup plans
Summary
The Batavia Environmental Commission reported on high‑school outreach, a river cleanup, a Big Tree program, single‑use bag fee education, and a proposed wildflower garden near the Art of the Fox mural; it also announced a Spur Bike Path cleanup for May 3.
The Batavia Environmental Commission on March 17 updated the City Council on education and volunteer initiatives and flagged several upcoming community events and proposals.
Alex Celes, chair of the Environmental Commission, and Anna, the commission’s student ambassador, told the council the commission has been increasing outreach to Batavia High School and building volunteer pipelines. Anna described organizing a river cleanup past Lippold Park that included high‑school volunteers and forest preserve staff to remove invasive honeysuckle.
The commission said it provided recommendations on the Single Use Bag Education RFP and the Energy Audit and Home Energy Improvement Rebate Program and continues to post recycling and sustainability information on social media. The commission reported it had 15 total submissions for the city’s Batavia Big Tree program and is finalizing measurements for several trees; the commission plans to offer a small sign owners may display to indicate an official Batavia Big Tree.
The commission also previewed a proposed wildflower garden to complement the Art of the Fox mural; commission members said Nikki has begun conversations with city staff and the Kane County Forest Preserve District and that a formal proposal will come to the council later. The commission asked the council to consider cooperation with the Kane County Forest Preserve District on a large land‑acquisition area near Nelson’s Lake Road and Main Street.
Upcoming volunteer opportunities announced by the commission include a Batavia Spur Bike Path cleanup on May 3, meeting at Rotolo Middle School; the commission said no preregistration is required and volunteers should bring gloves. Commission members also flagged a library presentation by Barb McKittrick about the Batavia forest reserves, scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m.
“She's graduating this year, but just as our inaugural ambassador, it's been great having her…taking what we're doing back to the high school,” Alex Celes said of Anna’s outreach. Anna said the experience influenced her college plans: she is choosing between the University of Maine and the University of Illinois for environmental studies and sustainability.
The commission told the council it is completing a 2025 strategic plan, forming subcommittees for education and ecology, and hopes to recruit one or two new high‑school ambassadors to sustain a multiyear student pipeline.
No formal council action or vote was taken on the commission’s items during the presentation; commissioners asked only for the council’s continued support and potential staff coordination on partnerships with the forest preserve district.
