Park District Green Initiatives

A Prescribed Burn of Lindberg Park Trial Gardens and the natural area in the southwest corner of Field Park are scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 2012 weather permitting. An alternate date of March 10m, 2012 has been determined.

Prescribed burns are conducted on an annual basis for the purpose of improving the health of the plantings. (Prescribed Burn Fact Sheet) A prescribed burn was previously conducted at Lindberg Park in March 2010 and March 2011.

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A community information meeting was held in March 2010 and 2011 to provide information about the role fire plays in maintaining the health of native plant communities such as prairie, savanna, and woodland. (Powerpoint presentation)

Necessary weather conditions to proceed with the Lindberg Park and Field Park Prescribed Burns:

Day of the Burn:
• Wind Direction: West – ideal, NW or SW is acceptable
• Wind Speed: 3 – 20 mph
• Low Relative Humidity
• Atmospheric Conditions: clear skies, stable forecast

Days Leading up to the Burn:
• Lead Time: 1-3 days dry sunny weather before burn. This is to dry out the dead vegetation. Without sufficient drying time, the vegetation won't burn even if the weather conditions on a particular day are perfect.

For further information please contact Henrietta Yardley at henriettay@oakparkparks.com or 708.725.2450.

Join the Park District of Oak Park to help with the greening of our parks. We're looking for community volunteers who would like to help care for a local park under the guidance of a park steward. Duties may include planting, plant care, tree monitoring, educational activities, special events or general maintenance. Interested Steward candidates should have a working knowledge of or interest in horticultural practices which might include gardening, prairie restoration and perennial plant and tree care.

Please complete a Green Team Volunteer Application and return it to Henrietta Yardley, Park District of Oak Park, 218 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. For more information please call 708.725.2450 or email Henrietta Yardley.

The Park District’s Greening Advisory Committee is partnering with the Oak Park Youth Baseball/Softball Association to pilot the Carry In/Carry Out program to reduce trash, keep our parks cleaner and increase environmental awareness and stewardship. We simply ask participants and spectators to take out whatever trash they bring into the park. Biodegradable blue bags have been placed in ALL baseball equipment boxes and distributed to our other sports affiliate organizations. These bags can be used to separate recyclables from non-recyclable waste to take home and place in residential recycling and waste containers. (more details)

With our kids leading the way we can all be environmentally responsible. Please do your part to keep our parks clean.

The Park District along with the Park District's volunteer citizen Greening Advisory Committee support the PlanItGreen Environmental Sustainability Plan for Oak Park and River Forest.

(January 2009) The Park District is pleased to announce the establishment of the Greening Advisory Committee (GAC). Originally this volunteer citizens committee was organized in fall 2007 as the Greening Task Force to discuss the environmental issues the Park District was facing and explore measures to be taken to meet citizens' greening interests and maintain the health of the parks. This Task Force developed the Park District’s first comprehensive environmental policy accepted by the Park Board in August 2008. An Integrated Pest Management Amendment to the Park District's Environmental Policy was approved by the Park Board in April 2010. (glyphosate fact sheet)

The Greening Task Force, now known as the Greening Advisory Committee will:

• Implement PDOP environmental policy, passed August 2008
• Act as the liaison between the Park District and the community
• Assist the Park Board in identifying and considering sustainability issues and exploring environmental initiatives for biodiversity, tree and park maintenance and green operations
• Help the Park District to determine annual projects
• Establish and maintain the park stewardship program

Greening Advisory Committee members serve staggered 3 year terms with new terms beginning in January. If you are interested in serving on the GAC, please send a letter of interest in November or December addressed to Park Board President Mark Gartland, Park District of Oak Park, 218 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 or c/o dianes@oakparkparks.com.

Recent Sustainability Efforts at the Park District of Oak Park

• The Greening Task Force developed a comprehensive environmental policy focusing on tree management, sustainability/green initiatives, and biodiversity throughout the park system.

• The Park District implemented a new online job application system, Applitrack, to eliminate paper applications.

• The Park District purchased two alternative fuel vehicles.

• Bio-diverse areas in the parks were included during the development of park site plans.

• The Park Board adopted a revised procurement policy which addresses the purchase of environmentally perferable products and services.

• Cheney Mansion hosts a Green Sunday event each spring featuring environmentally friendly activities and demonstrations presented by a variety of community organizations.

• Two Park District employees passed the exam to become Certified Arborists.

• A system for recycling at the Annual Frank Lloyd Wright Races has been established. This is the largest Park District special event enjoyed by over 2,500 runners, walkers and volunteers.

• Canvas tote bags, made of recycled materials, were distributed to all Park District staff to encourage the use of reusable bags when shopping.

• A Green Team of volunteers, organized by the Greening Advisory Committee, has been estabilshed to help in the care and maintenance of Field Park.

• In fall 2009 a cooperative program between the Oak Park Youth Baseball Softball Association and the Park District was implemented to reduce waste in our parks and encourage recycling. This "Carry In Carry Out" program originally focused on all t-ball games at Holmes School. In 2010 this program was expanded to t-ball fields at Hatch School, Carroll Park, and Julian Middle School. All participants and spectators are encouraged to take out any trash brought into the park. Biodegradable bags are provided by the Park District to carry out all recyclables.

Green Initiatives

In the management of the park system, the Park District of Oak Park strives to set a high standard of leadership and competency in the promotion of sound environmental practices and lifestyles. With the development of the Park District’s first comprehensive environmental policy in 2008, specific guidelines and goals, and practices and procedures have been established to secure the Park District’s contribution to a healthier environment.

A few of the initiatives outlined in the environmental policy include:

• Encourage diversity of life within each park's ecosystem and diversity of ecosystems within the Park District, with an emphasis on promoting native species.

• Strive for the introduction and maintenance of naturalized areas within the parks for their many benefits to all forms of life.

• Establish a park stewardship program to monitor and maintain biodiverse areas

• Initiate a tree stewardship program to monitor newly planted trees, provide timely watering and scout for insect and disease problems.

• Maintain a 5-year cyclic tree pruning program

• Utilize the current tree inventory completed in 2005 to manage trees and update the inventory every 5 years,

• Expand the Memorial Tree program

• Provide environmental education and interpretation to gain community support for conservation issues, help protect natural resources and open space and promote community environmental responsibility.

• Purchase environmentally safe and sensitive products

• Actively seek and implement ways to conserve energy resources

• Work with other community agencies and organizations to develop and enhance a strong environmental ethic.

For more information on "Going Green" at the Park District of Oak Park, please contact Henrietta Yardley at henriettay@oakparkparks.com.