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Franklin Park schedules April 25 and May 9 community tree plantings; species list complies with O'Hare rules
Summary
The Tree Preservation Commission confirmed an Openlands volunteer planting April 25 and a community giveaway May 9, outlined species and counts that meet O'Hare proximity rules, and directed safety and logistics steps including utility locates and pre-augering.
The Franklin Park Tree Preservation Commission confirmed two community tree-planting efforts: an Openlands volunteer event on Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., and a community tree giveaway and planting on Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Commission records show the April 25 event, led by Samantha Chavez and Lupe Escarcega of Openlands, expects up to 50 volunteers to plant an estimated 70–85 trees in the Wolf/Addison area. The commission noted that SFPFD Smolen will contact JULIE to arrange utility locates, planting sites will be pre-augered, and an on-site demonstration will teach volunteers proper planting technique. The fire department will request funding for refreshments and will set up a canopy and chairs at the Wolf/Addison location; a nearby address will serve as the meeting and parking point for volunteers.
Separately, Leslie Leon-Aguilar, Todd Veltman and Emma Holli-Murphy will meet with East and West Leyden Ecology Club students for a one-hour canvassing tutorial to determine resident interest within a 1.5-mile radius west of East Leyden. The commission expects a final count of interested resident recipients within one to two weeks; the community planting/giveaway is open to all who wish to participate on May 9.
The commission reviewed and confirmed the requested species list, noting compatibility with restrictions tied to proximity to O'Hare Airport. The list and planned counts include Speckled alder (10), River birch (7), Northern catalpa (7), Eastern redbud (5), reduced coffeetree (4), Ironwood (6), Yellowwood (3) — with some varieties noted as potentially needing staking — London planetree (11), Kindred Spirit oak (8), Princeton elm (8) and New Horizon elm (1). The Commission recorded that all planted trees will be entered into the CRTI/Morton Arboretum database.
Commission directions for the plantings included contacting JULIE for utility locates, pre-augering of holes, providing on-site planting demonstrations, grouping volunteers into small teams, and arranging refreshments and a volunteer check-in/parking point. Morton Arboretum/CRTI representatives confirmed that trees donated through these projects may be added to the village canopy inventory and may be planted on private property under the grant model supporting giveaways.
The Commission approved the meeting minutes from Feb. 17, 2026, and adjourned at 6:30 p.m. The Commission will reconvene to review volunteer counts and finalize logistical details ahead of the April 25 and May 9 events.
