URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

In 2019, the Downers Grove Park District received a US Forest Service Grant to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan. The grant is managed by the Morton Arboretum, which provided $5,000 toward the development of the plan, which the District matched with an additional $5,000.

Downers Grove Park District currently cares for and manages 5,169 trees spreading over 600 acres of open space. The long-term Urban Forest Management Plan will help the District:

  • Prepare for, and perpetuate the future of the Urban Forest by ensuring continuity in tree care, guide our future tree planting efforts
  • Improve the resiliency of the tree population by increasing diversity
  • Plan for the reduction of invasive species, such as buckthorn and honeysuckle in the parks

VIEW THE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

DOWNERS GROVE PARK DISTRICT INTERACTIVE PUBLIC TREE INVENTORY

An inventory of all District trees was completed in 2017. Each tree has been catalogued and mapped through a GIS system that is available for public viewing through an interactive online map.

Click on the tree icons to learn more about the species, leaf type, height, spread and more for each tree on the map. Click "more info" in the tree info box to learn additional information about the characteristics, care and uses for each tree.

VIEW INTERACTIVE PUBLIC TREE MAP

awarded LEVEL I arboretum BY ARBNET ACCREDITATION PROGRAM

Downers Grove Park District has been awarded a Level I Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta at various levels of development, capacity, and professionalism. Downers Grove Park District is also now recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world's arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants. The District's diverse urban canopy of 5,169 trees features 92 species including a large number of Maple and Oak species in addition to Baldcypress, Serviceberry, Hackberry, Kentucky Coffeetree, Douglas Fir and Alder trees.