2023 Tree Planting Grant
The City of Springfield together with the UFC announced it was awarded a U.S. Forest Service/Illinois Department of Natural Resources tree planting grant in the amount of $25,000. These funds will be matched by the City of Springfield and fund approximately 130 new trees. The trees will be planted in the northeast quadrant of the City over the next two years. This is the same area where the 2022 Tree Inventory took place.
City of Springfield Receives National Recognition
The City received national recognition in the Arbor Day Foundation’s publication Arbor Day (March/April 2023), for its work in supporting the urban forest. The newsletter reports that Springfield has a thriving urban forest, received Tree City USA status, and won six growth awards from the Arbor Day Foundation. The publication quotes Mike Brunk, urban forestry administrator for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as saying the City’s standout accomplishments over the years include the creation of an Urban Forestry Commission, winning grant funding for tree inventory work, recycling of all leaf and wood debris from municipal tree care, and a net gain in trees planted over trees removed. These accomplishments are the result of the efforts of the Mayor, City Council, the Public Works Department, and Urban Forestry Commission.
May 2022 Tree Planting by UFC
The Urban Forestry Commission and volunteers got together May 1, 2022, to plant trees in the Harvard Park area of Springfield. Each Sunday in May, except for Mother’s Day, tree planting continued around town, thanks to the UFC. In April and continuing in May, the UFC is gave away trees across the City to add to the urban forestry canopy and to beautify Springfield. If you need assistance planting a tree, contact UFC chair, at janvonq@gmail.com.
April’s 2022 Virtual Discussion
On April 7, the UFC hosted a virtual discussion on Oak Tree Research and the Advantage of Native Plants. Amy McEuen, Association Professor and Chair of the UIS Biology Department and Lucia Vazquez, Professor of Biology and UIS Associate Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation, led the discussion. This recording of this discussion is available online.