Oak Park’s own eco-artist - Wednesday Journal Oak Park’s own eco-artist. Chainsaw in hand, Margot McMahon creates sculptures from dead trees

“Beyond the symbolism of the project, she notes that there are real benefits to carving dead trees and keeping them in the ecosystem.”

www.oakpark.com/2026/04/07/m...

Oak Park’s own eco-artist - Wednesday Journal Oak Park’s own eco-artist. Chainsaw in hand, Margot McMahon creates sculptures from dead trees

“McMahon says making sculptures from dead trees is the perfect way to talk about the climate crisis. She used her carving to make a statement about the canopy of Chicago trees being eradicated.”

Graphic promoting the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s “Restore the Canopy, Plant a Tree” Free Sapling Program. The top text reads “Free Oak Trees!” in large white letters on a dark green leafy background. On the left, a tan flyer with a green hill and a green tree illustration says “Free Sapling Program” in dark brown and green text. On the right, four illustrated oak leaves and acorns are labeled with colored boxes: “Bur” (white text on dark teal), “Pin” (white text on purple), “Red” (white text on red), and “Swamp White” (white text on orange). The background features dark green leaf patterns.

The MWRD's Restore the Canopy, Plant a Tree free oak sapling program has begun & includes bur, pin, red, pin, & swamp white.

Trees are available for pick up on Wednesdays, April through October, 9 a.m. to noon.

Locations & details: https://ow.ly/l3Bs50YEvnJ

#MWRD #Chicago #trees #oak #free

Flooding in Chicago is getting worse. Here's why. Blamed in part on climate change, the threat of water ponding in your yard or your basement is growing, a Sun-Times/WBEZ investigation has found, putting health, homes at risk.

“Potential ways to help prevent flooding are expensive. They include fixes that would contain flood water through traditional pipes and structures as well as natural sources, like green spaces with plants and trees that can help absorb the overflow when sewers are full.”

Flooding in Chicago is getting worse. Here's why. Blamed in part on climate change, the threat of water ponding in your yard or your basement is growing, a Sun-Times/WBEZ investigation has found, putting health, homes at risk.

“The key to prevent flooding, many experts agree, involves creating more green spaces to help soak up the excess water before it reaches the sewers — and building more underground infrastructure to capture or divert the water somewhere else.”

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Flooding in Chicago is getting worse. Here's why. Blamed in part on climate change, the threat of water ponding in your yard or your basement is growing, a Sun-Times/WBEZ investigation has found, putting health, homes at risk.

A lot of interrelated issues contribute to flooding, and the solutions are more than just fixing one thing. Green infrastructure, including trees, must play a part.

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Flooding in Chicago is getting worse. Here's why.

Blamed in part on climate change, the threat of water ponding in your yard or your basement is growing, a Sun-Times/WBEZ investigation has found, putting health, homes at risk.

03/11/2026 Public Works Aldermanic Committee Meeting City Hall Conference Room - 2nd floor 6700 W. 26th Street AGENDA Call to Order 2. Roll Call - Attendance 3. Discussion on Arborist and Update on Tree Care Generally 4. Old Business 5. New Business 6...

The meeting will be livestreamed on BoxCast: boxcast.tv/view/0311202...

Agenda PDF: www.berwyn-il.gov/home/showpub...

Agenda from the PDF:

I) Call to Order
II) Roll Call -Attendance
III) Discussion on Arborist and Update on Tree Care Generally
IV) Old Business
V) New Business
VI) Citizen Comments
VII) Adjournment

The first meeting of the current #BerwynIL City Council’s Public Works, Parking, Trees, Traffic, Streets & Sewers aldermanic committee is tonight, Wednesday, March 11, at 6 PM in the 2nd Floor Conference Room at City Hall, 6700 West 26th Street. www.berwyn-il.gov/Home/Compone...

Who here has a favorite tree

Like a specific tree, not a type of tree

Why Leaving the Leaves Is Better for Your Yard

“The number one thing you can do from an entomologist’s perspective is plant an oak tree and leave the leaves that fall off the oak tree.”
#gardening #trees #biodiversity #LeaveTheLeaves
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/r...

More: gracelandwest.org/eco-gardens-...

Beneath the surface - Chicago Reader After a storm, Chicago streets transform. Water rushes through alleys and basements begin to seep. The sewers can’t drink it all, so if the water doesn’t back up into basements, it spills into the riv...

Beyond just trees: “Green infrastructure, like native gardens, pathways, and soil systems, absorbs rainwater where it falls. Instead of overwhelming the sewers, water sinks into the ground, nourishing plants. And those plants can be beautiful, too.” chicagoreader.com/city-life/gr...

In New Jersey, Benefits Bloom in Tiny Forests

“In May, analysts at Earth Economics, a nonprofit, studied three of Elizabeth’s microforests and found that for each dollar invested, the public will gain on average $10.90 in benefits like air quality and heat reduction.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...

In New Jersey, Benefits Bloom in Tiny Forests

“It’s a tiny space, no bigger than a couple shipping containers really. But standing there, the midsummer heat recedes. So does the roar of nearby airplanes and the fishy stench of the market next door.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...

Boy’s discovery reveals highly complex plant-insect interaction | Penn State University A backyard discovery by 8-year-old Hugo Deans, son of Penn State Professor of Entomology Andrew Deans, eventually led to the revelation that oak galls — plant growth triggered by insects — are part of...

An 8-year-old’s thoughtful observation ended up leading to new research revealing an elaborate relationship among #ants, #wasps, and #oak #trees. A post from 2022: www.psu.edu/news/researc... #myrmecochory

UofL research: Living near trees may prevent vascular damage from pollution | UofL News Researchers at the University of Louisville have shown that living near an abundance of green vegetation can offset the negative effects of air pollution on blood vessel health. The research, led by A...

“Researchers at the University of Louisville have shown that living near an abundance of green vegetation can offset the negative effects of air pollution on blood vessel health.”

www.uoflnews.com/section/scie...

From gray to green: Across Chicago, dozens of concrete schoolyards transformed into community hubs and flooding solutions Spaces transformed to address heavy rains in neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding, particularly on the South and West sides.

From gray to green: Across Chicago, a @healthyschoolscampaign.org program has transformed dozens of concrete schoolyards into community hubs and flooding solutions.

For @chicagotribune.com:

From gray to green: Across Chicago, dozens of concrete schoolyards transformed into community hubs and flooding solutions Spaces transformed to address heavy rains in neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding, particularly on the South and West sides.

Since 2014, the Space to Grow program has turned 36 barren yards at public schools across Chicago into green community hubs; five more redesign projects are breaking ground this summer.

Unfortunately we still see volcano mulch. A lot.
bygl.osu.edu/index.php/no...

During the Corrida del Mariachi 5k, we definitely observed that spectators were clustered around the trees along the route — in those places that offered shade.

Sign the Petition Create Proactive Restorative Tree Planting in Berwyn, Illinois

Our petition asking the City of Berwyn to institute more proactive tree-planting policies: www.change.org/p/create-pro...

Berwyn, Illinois homeowners can request a free try using the Annual Parkway Tree Program Online Application form linked from the City's website: www.berwyn-il.gov/government/d...

We are out here at the Corrida del Mariachi vendor row on Wesley Avenue between 16th and 18th Streets, Berwyn, Illinois. Come and see us! We are helping homeowners request free parkway trees from the City and getting signatures for our petition calling for proactive tree planting.

Mobility Impact Trees calm traffic, reduce stress and car accidents, encourage walking and extend the life of pavement.

Notes on trees and traffic calming, lowering stress, encouraging walking and biking, and improving pavement conditions: vibrantcitieslab.com/research/tra...

Berwyn, Illinois residents can request free parkway trees from the city’s Department of Public Works. Find the “Click Here” graphic for the Annual Parkway Tree Program Online Application on the Public Works Documents » Forestry page on the City of Berwyn website: www.berwyn-il.gov/government/d...

Solutions to an Illinois City's Flooding Issue Following months of research, canvassing, and listening to community needs, journalists, including Britton Struthers-Lugo, produced solutions-based stories about the challenges faced by the Berwyn, Il...

“The Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative recognizes this and has been encouraging residents to take advantage of Berwyn’s free tree-planting program.” thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Solutions to an Illinois City's Flooding Issue Following months of research, canvassing, and listening to community needs, journalists, including Britton Struthers-Lugo, produced solutions-based stories about the challenges faced by the Berwyn, Il...

“Affordability is key to successful mitigation plans for urban flooding, especially in areas where green infrastructure is often sacrificed to reduce funding burdens.” thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Benefits of Trees and Vegetation | US EPA This page provide information about the co-benefits of trees and vegetation in reducing heat islands in urban environments.

“Trees and vegetation … lower surface and air temperatures by providing shade and cooling through evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration is a process in which trees and vegetation absorb water through their roots and evaporate it through their leaves.”