Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative | Berwyn, Illinois
We will be at Proksa Park for the 2024 Juneteenth Spirit Fest on Sunday, June 23rd from 1 to 5 pm. We hope to see you there!
Last year’s event was lots of fun. Come see us at our booth where we will be hosting a find-a-leaf scavenger hunt for the kids — plus a chance to get any tree questions you might have, answered in person!
Help us get an extra $75,000 for Berwyn to plant trees this year—just come VOTE at the Berwyn Township annual meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 6 p.m.!
UPDATE: This measure passed UNANIMOUSLY! Thank you for making your voice heard!
— Original Post —
All Berwyn registered voters can vote for this item on the agenda, but you have to be there IN PERSON when the vote happens.
We learned that the Berwyn Township has funds set aside that it needs to spend on city improvements. So last month BTCI members collected signatures to get this resolution added to the Township annual meeting:
Should the Berwyn Township spend $75,000 in tax revenue to purchase 150 trees for public lands?
Passing this resolution will not raise taxes, because this is money that has already been set aside. It calls for dollars to be transferred from the Township to the City. This amount will cover purchasing and planting the trees—and might even pay for more than 150 trees.
Now it’s time to put it to a vote! If you support trees in Berwyn, join us at Pav YMCA at 2947 Oak Park Ave. on April 9th at 6 p.m. We hope to SEE YOU THERE!
Did you know we almost lost a Berwyn Park?
Serenity Park was slated for a 12/12/23 Berwyn City Council vote to be REMOVED and paved over for a ‘temporary’ parking lot—with only a few days notice. This would have included cutting down five trees that were planted in the last year.
But community members—including the Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative—swiftly reached out to the Berwyn City Council, held a park rally, and the mayor removed the item from the meeting agenda.
Here is the original call for action from the Serenity Park Community Gardens:
This is a great example of why we all need to keep our eyes on the ball. YOUR VOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE. Big props to Berwyn community members who spotted this and took quick action to make our feelings known, and save Serenity Park!
Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative | Berwyn, Illinois