(Park Ridge-Niles School District 64, 2023)

This year, Park Ridge celebrates 40 years as a Tree City USA Community and 24th year as a Growth Award recipient by the National Arbor Day Foundation. In fact, Park Ridge is one of only a few communities in Illinois that are 20 plus year Growth Award recipients, exemplifying the City’s fondness for trees and commitment to effective urban forest management. Growth Awards recognize communities that demonstrate high levels of tree care, urban forest management, and community engagement through annual activities that build sustainable community forestry programs in the long term. 

Arbor Day 2024 will be celebrated on Friday, August 26th at Carpenter Elementary School at 9:15am. 

Each year, the City maintains its Tree City USA designation by maintaining a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on its urban forestry program managed by the Forestry Division, and celebrating Arbor Day. In 2023, the City spent about $24 per capita on urban forest management, approximately $10 more than the state average. 

While the types and locations of the celebration vary from year to year, the Forestry Division always celebrates by planting a new tree on public properties and parkways throughout the city. In addition to tree plantings, past celebrations have included a poster-board contest at Roosevelt Elementary School, climbing mature oaks with students from Maine South and Maine East High Schools on-campus and at the Forest Preserves, tree giveaways to residents, and sapling distribution to local elementary schools.

Check out District 64's post "Healthy Trees, Healthy Communities: An Arbor Day Partnership" for additional Arbor Day 2023 coverage and their Youtube video "Arbor Day 2023 at Roosevelt."  (Park Ridge-Niles School District 64, May 2023) 

Arbor Day 2022 photo (Park Ridge Facebook, 2022)

Arbor Day 2021 video (Park Ridge Facebook, 2021)

Arbor Day 2020 video (Park Ridge Facebook, 2020)

"Oak tree planted at Maine South on Arbor Day amid species decline" (Chicago Tribune, 2019)

"Maine East High School marks Arbor Day with tree climbing, planting of new oak" (Chicago Tribune, 2018)

"New elm tree planted at Park Ridge Public Library marks Arbor Day" (Chicago Tribune, 2017)

"Field School welcomes new tree on Arbor Day" (Chicago Tribune, 2016)

"First of three new trees planted near Park Ridge school on Arbor Day" (Chicago Tribune, 2015)




(Arbor Day Foundation, 2023)

Learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation, Tree City USA designations, and Growth Awards by visiting their website at www.arborday.org.