Urban Forest Management Plan (PDF)
On May 23, 2022 the Village Board approved the Village's first Urban Forest Management Plan. An Urban Forest Management Plan shall outline goals, budgets, and Arboricultural Best Management Practices for the Urban Forest in the Village of Western Springs. Trees that make up this Urban Forest consist of trees in the Village’s public right of way. This plan also seeks to outline both the short- and long-term management of this urban forest resource to maximize the environmental and aesthetic benefits of the Urban Forest, while minimizing risks and costs. These goals and practices are designed to be financially and programmatically sustainable, as well as flexible for the Village, both now and in the future.
The approval of the initial plan identifies the Village's strategic goals, current tree inventory/diversity and tree guidelines for maintenance, construction activities and health/evaluation. Additional objectives including the development of a 10-year urban forest strategy, development of a preferred species list and the identification of legacy trees will occur in 2022/2023.
The Village is also developing a comprehensive webpage and site for forestry related activities and urban forest information to be published this summer.