Crystal Lake Park District issued the following announcement on Feb. 19.
The Crystal Lake Park District is among 20 Illinois communities awarded grants administered by The Morton Arboretum in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to help improve Illinois urban forestry. The $3,000 Urban and Community Forestry Grant will enable the Crystal Lake Park District to ensure that staff and funds are allocated for years to come for tree maintenance and planting. The plan will outline best management practices, criteria for species selection, strategies for dealing with invasive species, and tree protection.
According to Ann Viger, Director of Park Development and Interpretive Services, the development of an Urban Forest Management Plan will provide continuity in the park district’s approach to tree management and will establish goals for diversity and urban forest canopy throughout the district’s 1,450 acres of land.
A draft of the Urban Forest Management Plan is available for public review and input on February 25, 2020 at 7:00 PM at the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, 1 E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.
The 2019 / 2020 Urban and Community Forestry Grant program is made possible by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the USDA Forest Service to meet urban and community forestry goals throughout Illinois. The matching grants provide opportunities for public entities (municipalities, park districts, forest preserves etc.) to support any combination of tree planting, developing a management plan, completing a tree inventory, or developing a tree preservation / protection ordinance. Grantees are required to update their ordinances or pass new ones to meet required standards. The Morton Arboretum provides free assistance to ensure that communities are able to meet the requirements.
The grants were awarded through a competitive process, with over $217,000 in available funds distributed evenly north and south of highway I-80, and communities competing in their own geographic areas. (Insert community name) is required to match the grant funding, either financially or in-kind.
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized outdoor tree museum and tree research center located in Lisle, Illinois. As the champion of trees, the Arboretum is committed to scientifically-informed action, both locally and globally, and encouraging the planting and conservation of trees for a greener, healthier, more beautiful world. On 1,700 acres are 222,000 plant specimens representing 4,650 different kinds of plants, along with specialty gardens, educational exhibits, the award-winning Children’s Garden, 16 miles of hiking trails and the Visitor Center, featuring The Arboretum Store and the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café. The Morton Arboretum is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, welcoming 1.2 million visitors annually and serving 54,000 member households. Learn more at mortonarb.org.
Original source can be found here.
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