Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arbor Day Seedlings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DuPage County discusses expanding Arbor Day seedling distribution; funding limited
Summary
County staff and committee members discussed the Arbor Day 2025 seedling program, which distributed about 500 bare-root seedlings last year in West Chicago and currently has roughly $1,000 available for broader distribution in 2026. Members suggested partnering with local organizations to ensure trees are planted.
DuPage County Environmental Committee members and staff discussed options for the Arbor Day 2025 seedling program and ways to expand distribution in 2026.
Staff said the county distributed roughly 500 bare-root seedlings last year in partnership with the city of West Chicago, chosen in part because West Chicago is identified in a regional canopy study as an environmental-justice community with low tree canopy. Staff said the county has about $1,000 available now, which would not fund a broad countywide rollout.
Committee members suggested targeted partnerships and distribution methods to increase the likelihood that seedlings are planted. One member proposed partnering with Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts so that seedlings would be planted by volunteers rather than merely handed out for residents to take home. "Maybe you can get some Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts involved... I would like to make sure that these trees get homes," a committee member said.
Staff emphasized that the county tries not to blanket-distribute seedlings; the program’s design requires education and that recipients request seedlings in person as a way to encourage planting and proper care. Staff also suggested prioritizing communities with low canopy such as West Chicago, Bolingbrook and Bensonville, and said they would reach out to those municipalities to coordinate distribution mechanisms.
No formal motion or county funding request for expansion was made at the meeting. Staff asked for the committee’s input and indicated they would coordinate with municipalities and partner organizations to explore options for 2026.
Clarifying details provided at the meeting included last year’s distribution quantity (~500 bare-root seedlings), the county’s available funds (~$1,000), and the county’s desire to combine distribution with an educational component to support planting and care.
