Grant funding supports 50 new trees in Indian Head Park
The village has been a Tree City USA community for 35 years, a designation by the Arbor Day Foundation, which has a mission of inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.
'The village values its wildlife and the beauty of nature,' said Joe Coons, Indian Head Park's director of Public Works. 'Also, the village has a no fence ordinance in place, so planting trees becomes even more important for screening and beautification.'
The grant funding is provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service – Eastern Region. The village has allocated an additional $25,000 from the approved 2025/2026 budget to support the project.
The program is administered by The Morton Arboretum's Chicago Region Trees Initiative, which supports urban forestry planning and implementation efforts throughout the region.
'This grant allows Indian Head Park to continue our legacy of environmental stewardship by strengthening our urban tree canopy for generations to come,' Village President Amy Jo Wittenberg said in a statement. 'As a Tree City USA community for 35 years, proactive tree management and canopy enhancement remain top priorities. These new trees will improve quality of life and build resilience against environmental stressors, pests and diseases.'
Urban Tree Canopy is the leafy, green, overhead cover from trees that community groups, residents, and local governments maintain in the landscape for beauty, shade, fruit production, wildlife habitat, energy conservation, stormwater mitigation and a host of public health and educational values, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
'A good tree canopy not only makes the community beautiful, but it also helps with keeping temperatures cooler during the summer months,' Coons said. 'It also helps with flood mitigation.'
Coons said the planting locations for the additional trees will be identified using the village's in-progress Urban Forestry Management Plan, which includes a detailed tree inventory report. 'The inventory will evaluate tree quantity, species, condition, and size, helping guide reforestation decisions and tree maintenance strategies into the future,' he said.
Coons said the village usually tries to plant at least 20 trees per year. The grant will allow Indian Head Park to plant more trees than otherwise would be the case, he said. Newly planted trees will be a mix of replacements for existing trees and additional ones.
Indian Head Park is one of 186 places in Illinois that have received the Tree City USA designation.
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Fire damages the land so severely it can take years before trees are ready to be planted. Visit to learn more about the long road to recovery after a wildfire and what it takes to replant a forest. About the Arbor Day Foundation The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they've answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning. The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at About The Outdoor Circle The Outdoor Circle is Hawaii's oldest environmental nonprofit, having advocated for the planting and protection of trees across the state since 1912. Since then, The Outdoor Circle has planted and given away hundreds of thousands of trees across Hawaii and works closely with the community to ensure that trees continue to be a major feature throughout the state. To learn more, please visit About Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows is one of Maui's first resorts, unfolding across 27 acres of sun-kissed, tropical gardens on the world-renowned Ka'anapali Beach. The intimate property, once the preferred retreat for Hawaiian royalty, remains independently owned and curated by locals who share the values of the islands. With stunning panoramic views of neighboring islands, Lanai and Molokai, and premier access to over a mile of secluded Ka'anapali Beach, the intimate oasis offers 333 guest rooms and 127 private bungalows, exquisite open-air dining, the dazzling Myths of Maui Luau, The Spa at Royal Lahaina, two serene pools, recreational and tennis/pickleball courts, an adjacent golf course, and above all, its hallmark warmth of personalized hospitality with aloha. The resort invites guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and rich culture of Maui, offering a restoring and re-energizing blend of relaxation and adventure. For more information, please visit | @royallahainaresort or call 808-661-3611. ### Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Arbor Day Foundation
