Your Responsibilities
Trees in parkways (city property between the street and the sidewalk or between the street and the front property line) may be planted by property owners and are the responsibility of property owners. The property owner is also accountable for trimming trees that hang over the sidewalk so branches do not interfere with pedestrians.
Periodically the Public Works Department trims low hanging branches from the parkway trees for safety reasons. This helps prevent broken mirrors, smashed windshields and other hazards to vehicles that must travel along the curbs, such as Post Office vehicles, street sweepers, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks. Early in the growing season, we suggest that homeowners trim tree branches which hang over the sidewalk so pedestrians can walk by without obstructions.
Adding New Trees to Your Parkway
As the ash tree population is being reduced throughout Illinois by the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, cities and homeowners are encouraged to reforest their landscapes with trees that will be hearty enough to withstand the elements respective to the various zones in Illinois. If you are adding to your landscaping, please refer to the Tree Species List for Northern Illinois for trees recommended for planting in our area. These are the trees approved by Public Works for planting in the city.
Tree Species List for Northern Illinois
Protecting Against the Emerald Ash Borer
For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer please refer to the Illinois Department of Agriculture website accessible through the following link.
