CHICAGO (April 24, 2026)—Chicago State University (CSU) and The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) partnered to plant 20 trees along the Bishop Ford Freeway corridor on campus to celebrate Arbor Day and promote sustainability among the community.
The initiative engaged CSU students, staff volunteers and leadership alongside the Arboretum’s team of tree experts, creating a hands-on opportunity for students to learn about urban forestry and environmental stewardship. The newly planted trees will improve air quality, enhance biodiversity and provide long-term ecological benefits for the campus and South Side neighborhoods.
Twelve different types of native or native-adapted trees well-suited for urban environments were planted, including redbuds, magnolias, ironwoods, lindens and others. They will grow to serve as a vegetation barrier separating the highway’s source of pollution from campus life and helping to reduce noise from traffic.
Adding plants to a landscape also improves mental health and well-being, and views of trees can benefit academic environments by improving attention and memory. Vegetation barriers also offer a great learning tool supporting science curricula when planted at schools.
“We are grateful to The Morton Arboretum for their continued partnership and generosity in donating 20 trees to Chicago State University in celebration of Arbor Day,” President Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott. “This meaningful contribution enhances the beauty of our campus community while also creating hands-on learning opportunities for our biology students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world practice. Partnerships like this exemplify what makes CSU a great place to learn, grow and serve.”
CRTI is the Arboretum’s urban and community forestry program, working to improve the health, diversity and equitable distribution of trees in the Chicago region and throughout Illinois. For more than a century, the Arboretum has worked to collect, protect and care for trees. Its founder, Joy Morton, came from a family that founded Arbor Day in 1872, and the Arboretum continues to carry forward the family motto to “plant trees.”
“We are delighted to be celebrating Arbor Day with Chicago State University,” said The Morton Arboretum’s President and CEO Jill Koski. “Collaborating with these forward-thinking students is an inspiring and meaningful way to honor this tree-centered holiday. The 20 trees we’re planting together today will be enjoyed by students for decades to come, and provide lasting environmental benefits for Chicago’s South Side.”
This event reflects how community partnerships can advance environmental stewardship, sustainability and learning.