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Lake Bluff’s One-of-a-Kinda Washington Park
By Michael Stephenson
In the early 1990s, the Lake Bluff Garden Club discovered a neglected lot on the corner of Sheridan Road and Washington Avenue. The property had one redeeming feature: a stately 200-year-old bur oak tree, which inspired the club to restore the lot. Volunteers pulled weeds, discarded litter, and planted three crabapple trees. The village dedicated Washington Park in 1995, just in time for Lake Bluff’s 100th anniversary.
Since then, garden club members have mulched, planted, watered and weeded the lawn and flowerbeds annually.
“Washington Park has been a place for members to gather for a friendly chat while pulling weeds or edging a bed,” said Peggy Pezza, the club’s civics chairperson.
Sadly, in 2018, the Washington Park bur oak died. The garden club decided to use the wood to make a table and benches for the park. John Palenske, landscape project manager at Kinnucan Tree Experts and Landscape Company, heard about the idea. Two months later, Palenske told club members that in honor of Lake Bluff’s 125th anniversary, Kinnucan would restore Washington Park and maintain the site for one year, at no cost, a $65,000 donation.
Palenske recruited Deirdre Toner, DT Design, LLC, to plan the new garden, and he invited Mike Jarvi, master woodcrafter from Crab Tree Farm, to design and build the table and benches using wood harvested from the bur oak. The tree removal, table and benches, new sprinkler system and plant name signage was donated by a Lake Bluff family to foster the love of the nature and gardening in Lake Bluff.
It was a “true Lake Bluff community effort,” said Marietta Hance, special projects chairperson for the Lake Bluff Garden Club.
Instrumental in reviving the park were Deirdre Toner, DT Design, LLC, and John Palenske, Kinnucan Tree Experts and Landscape Company.
With garden club member input, Toner focused on themes of sustainability and community learning. Visitors can explore the garden following a path under the 25-year-old crabapple trees, passing hour-glass shaped beds filled with more than 60 species of primarily native plants, each with a story to tell. For example:
- Indian Pinks (Spigelia marilandica) attract hummingbirds
- Bowman’s Root (Gillenia trifoliata) was used by Native Americans to treat respiratory conditions, stomach disorders, bee stings and bug bites
- Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) provides protective cover for birds
- Palm Sedge (Carex muskigumensis) has triangular stems
- Lavender Hyssop (Agastache x Blue Fortune) leaves and flowers make a tasty tea
As Lake Bluff’s only “teaching garden,” Washington Park’s design sets the stage for visitors to observe and learn about sustainable perennial gardening.
If you’re looking to gather with family and friends, the gray hexagonal table in the center of Washington Park is the perfect spot to socialize. To honor the bur oak tree’s symbolic importance to Washington Park, Jarvi carved a Celtic Spirit of the Tree on one of the tables’ legs.
“Kids will enjoy the carving,” Jarvi said.
The Celtic Spirit carved into the table leg is just one of Washington Park’s many charms
Mike Jarvi built the bur oak table in the workshop at Crab Tree Farm in Lake Bluff
All of the paths at Washington Park meet ADA-approved standards. There is an open space at the table for wheelchair accessibility. Future improvements are planned, including a water fountain with a drink well for dogs.
The Washington Park rededication ceremony is planned for 2021 to coincide with Lake Bluff’s 125th Anniversary celebrations, which were rescheduled from this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until then, plan a visit to Washington Park. It is a storied spot with a unique history.
Washington Park is at the corner of Washington Avenue and Sheridan Road, Lake Bluff.
Kinnucan performs safe, efficient mechanized tree removal
A Leader in the Tree Care Industry for Over 45 Years
Lake Bluff, Illinois February 16, 2016
Kinnucan Tree Experts and Landscape Company, Inc., a leader in the tree care industry for over 45 years, is pleased to share our commitment to the following industry certifications and accreditations:
To date, we employ:
8 Certified Arborists
2 Qualified Tree Risk Assessment Arborists
1 Certified Municipal Specialist Arborist
1 Certified Arborist and Tree Worker
4 Certified Tree Care Safety Professionals
10 Pesticide Applicator Card Holders
Heavy Machinery Helps Kinnucan Deliver Results
New Crane
Kinnucan recently purchased a 22 ton rear mount crane with a 101 ft boom. This equipment will greatly increase the safety and efficiency of Kinnucan's tree removal operations. In addition, this unit will be utilized in the landscape construction to move safely and efficiently various construction and plant materials.
New Caterpillar 299D
Turn undesirable woody vegetation into mulch. Kinnucan has a Caterpillar 299D with a heavy duty mulcher attachment which efficiently mows down Buckthorn and other woody weed vegetation quickly turning that vegetation into landscape mulch. In addition, this machine has a shear which can shear a 17 inch tree trunk in seconds. This equipment gives Kinnucan a unique advantage in providing safe and efficient service to Kinnucan's clientele.
LB Still A ‘Tree City USA’
For the 19th consecutive year, Lake Bluff has been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation honoring the Village’s commitment to outstanding community forestry practices.
As part of a family of over 3,400 communities that have received this designation, Lake Bluff has met the following four standards required to become a Tree City USA:
- the operation of a forestry department.
- the protection of trees through a tree preservation ordinance,
- the implementation of a comprehensive community forestry program, and
- a proclamation observing Arbor Day.
In accomplishing one of the standards for Tree City USA status, the Village Board designated Friday, April 24th as Arbor Day in Lake Bluff. This celebration will happen throughout the day in programs at schools and , in particular, in the planting of a tree at Blair Park (355 W, Washington Ave.) at 2:00 p.m.
The benefits of being a Tree City USA are many and are well known to the 135 million Americans living in a Tree City USA. The standards used by the Arbor Day Foundation that distinguish these communities from others help create a framework for an urban or community forestry program. By retaining the Tree City USA designation the Village continues to successfully fulfill one of the goals outlined in the 2016 Strategic Plan, enhancing public and private open spaces, which seeks to achieve the community’s vision of Environmental stewardship, which enhances the natural beauty of the community.
When asked about the environmentally-friendly award, Public Works Superintendent Jake Terlap says, “Being recognized as a Tree City USA for the past 19 years says the Lake Bluff enjoys a quality of life better than most other places and ensures its commitment to its natural environment continues.”
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA designation, contact Jake Terlap, Public Works Superikntendent, at 847-735-2310 (tel: 847-735-2310), or email at vlb@lakebluff.org.
April 21, 2015 – The Roanoke Group – Conservation Easement
April 21, 2015
RE: Conservation Easement
Dear Lake Bluff Residents,
The Roanoke Group is pleased to announce that the restoration process of the 10.3 acre conservation area will continue this spring. TRG’s team of landscape experts consisting of Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landscape Company, Mariani Landscape and Pizzo & Associates have worked closely with Lake Bluff’s consultant, Urban Forest Management, and Lake Bluff Staff throughout the restoration process under the guidelines of the approved management plan for the conservation easement.
Kinnucan Tree Experts will manage the last phase of tree work in this phase including the removal of diseased trees in addition to trimming and fertilization of the healthy trees in the Conservation Easement. Pizzo & Associated will continue the stewardship of the woodlands, inclusive of buckthorn removal and treatment, while monitoring the Jensen seed mix which will start to sprout this Spring. Pizzo & Associates will continue the shoreline stewardship that started last year with erosion control, native seed installation and native plug installation. Mariani Landscape will continue the landscape maintenance of the entire site including the maintenance and new plantings along Green Bay Road.
This summer and fall TRG, Kinnucan, Mariani and Pizzo will work with the Village and Urban
Forest Management on the next phase of the restoration of the conservation easement that will include the phased planting of 150 new trees of selected species, as well as forest floor native plantings, including such species as trillium, wild geranium and may apples.
Regards,
The Roanoke Group
Forest & Bluff’s Best of the Best
Kinnucan Provides Lighting to Lake Bluff Criterium
The Village of Lake Bluff has become quite the destination to many an amateur as well as professional cyclist. For the last couple of years, the town has hosted a one-day Criterium.
(A criterium, or crit, is a bike race held on a short course – usually less than 1 mile, often run on closed-off city center streets). Among the day of racing, the village throws an all-town party, with food stalls, beer trucks and multiple bands. Kinnucan was able to help beautify the event at night by providing and installing at no charge plenty of LED lighting throughout our village green.
ABC News reports on widespread need for emerald ash borer control
This ABC News report explains the need for emerald ash borer control in the the Chicago land area.