Lemont Park District estimates 40 percent of its trees infected by ash borer

LEMONT An informal tree survey by theLemont Park District determined that about 507 of its 1,288 trees have been affected by the emerald ash borer, according to a park district news release.

Northview Park on McCarthy Road and Centennial Park on 127th Street have been most affected.

According to the release, a majority of the trees in the two parks most affected were not planted as part of a landscape plan but self propagated over time.

The park district will have to remove 182 trees from Northview Park, which is first on the list for tree removal.

Director of Maintenance and Planning Dawn Banks said the Northview Park tree removal is expected to cost $9,800 and should start in a couple of weeks, weather permitting.

The rate comes out to about $54 per tree, on average. By comparison, the Village of Lemont paid about $205 per tree, on average, to remove 252 ash trees on parkways in two subdivision.

Banks and Lemont Public Works Director Ralph Pukula said the smaller size of the park district trees and more concentrated area the trees will be removed from were part of the reason the park district paid less.

While the staff is working on a tree replacement plan to fit into future budgets, the immediate concern is removing the dead trees, according to the release.

With the number of dead trees in Northview Park and the age of its playground, the Lemont Park District Board and staff will work on a new master plan for renovating the park.

The process, which is expected to take about two years, will include various planning meetings, design research, budget consideration and a bidding process before construction starts.

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Lemont Park District estimates 40 percent of its trees infected by ash borer