I SPEAK FOR THE TREES.
www.ispeakforthetrees.org
Yorkville has cut down 900 trees infected by the Emerald Ash Borer. The City has to cut down 700 more. This is in addition to the Rt. 47 expansion and the expansion of the high school where more trees have been cut down.
The only active Yorkville plan in place is a 50/50 Parkway Program plan where the City will pay for half of up to 36 trees a year. Residents can choose a tree from the list of trees offered and pay the other half. Prices begin at $108. http://www.yorkville.il.us/5050ParkwayTreeProgram.php
Joliet, IL. and Plano, IL. have connected with the Morton Arboretum. http://www.mortonarb.org/community-trees Joliet was able to gain a grant to replace trees and have a program in place for as replacement is needed. http://joliet.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/city-arboretum-holding-public-meeting-on-ash-borer-problem
I have contacted the Morton Arboretum to see if Yorkville can also apply for a grant for help. I was too late. The funds are gone.
Fundraising efforts have begun to buy trees. I envision a great big truck with trees on it pulling into a parking lot and handing out trees to Yorkville residents. That is the goal. To replenish the trees that have been cut down.
I built a website based on the premise of the movie, The Lorax. The concept is fun, it's the preservation of trees. Equally, this topic is greatly important.
Trees will be distributed via raffle. (I hope that everyone who wants a tree can get one, but to ensure fairness, we will have a raffle in place.) Simply attend one of our events to enter the raffle. More details are on the website.
Please visit the website and join me in the effort to make a change and bring trees to Yorkville.
We have 17,000 Yorkville residents. Can you imagine if everyone donated one dollar to this cause? We can make an impact.
A HUGE Thank You to Paradise Car Wash, Foxy's Ice Cream, Yorkville Culvers, and Sense of Samadhi Yoga Studio for creating events for this important cause.
www.ispeakforthetrees.org
Please visit the website often, events are being added.
Thank you in advance for listening. Let's SPEAK FOR THE TREES.
