The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Make way for tree pruning

Residents are urged to move their cars from the streets when temporary no-parking signs go up to allow private contractors to prune parkway trees quickly and safely as the winter trimming cycle continues through March.

The areas scheduled for trimming this season are between the Eisenhower Expressway and Madison Street from East Avenue to Harlem Avenue, and between Madison Street and South Boulevard, from Austin Boulevard to Harlem Avenue.

Crews follow the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines for tree care to address three key issues — tree health, resident safety and protecting property from damage. Dead or dying limbs are removed and canopies raised to allow for safe vehicle and pedestrian traffic and create appropriate clearances for adjacent structures and signs.

While the pruning can seem excessive when no leaves are on the limbs, crews work to ensure that pruning is just right as foliage returns in the spring. With a program that aims to prune every tree on public property once every four years, plans must consider that the medium-aged trees that compose a sizeable share of those on Oak Park parkways can grow up to two feet each year — or eight feet between pruning cycles.

The Village’s pruning program has proven very successful in minimizing storm damage and reducing ongoing pruning requests.

Village Forestry crews spot check progress of the private contractors. Residents are urged to call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us with questions or concerns about the type or quality of work being performed by contractors. More information on the care of the nearly 19,000 trees on public property is posted at www.oak-park.us/trees.