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Chicago Region Trees Initiative

Partners of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative

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The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative collaborates with a network of partners, including community, civic, nonprofit, and green industry organizations and businesses.

CRTI has engaged more than 500 partners throughout Illinois, including municipalities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, forest preserves, park districts, private landowners and managers, and other stakeholders. Through these collaborations, CRTI works to inspire tree stewards and build municipal capacity and support for trees, with a focus on environmental equity and disadvantaged communities.

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative and its partners have developed a comprehensive plan to improve the health, diversity, and equitable distribution of the Chicago regional forest. Together, guided by this plan, CRTI and its partners have had a regionwide impact.

CRTI’s collaborations and the possibilities for partnership are wide-ranging. For example, partners may work with CRTI to:

  • Organize community tree plantings
  • Develop new tree protection ordinances
  • Conserve and celebrate oak trees in natural areas and neighborhoods
  • Improve municipalities’ tree-care capacity through staff training, volunteer development, and tree inventories
  • Find funding for community tree care
  • Plan to mitigate the impacts of climate change

Partners who come together in CRTI’s work groups connect with peers, share ideas, and contribute to the program’s planning on topics such as forest composition, tree and green infrastructure, tree risk assessment and management, and tree stewardship and planting.

CRTI welcomes new collaborators! Learn how you or your organization can become a partner of CRTI.

 

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Partner Project Highlights

Partner Project Highlights

Partner Project Highlights

Here is a sample of the recent work done by CRTI and its partners across the Chicago region and Illinois.

The Waukegan Park District

The Waukegan Park District has partnered with Lake Forest Open Lands Association (LFOLA) under The Morton Arboretum Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s Tree Equity Grant For Disadvantaged Communities to improve their parks’ forest health by pruning and removing hazardous tree limbs and dead trees. LFOLA and the Waukegan Park District have also collaborated to put on educational events such as the Waukegan’s Eco-Therapy Project for a park clean up at Corrine J. Rose Park.

Outside of their work with Lake Forest Openlands Association, the Waukegan Park District also works to enhance their open spaces with amenities that are accessible, fun, and safe. The Waukegan Park District celebrated the grand opening of Dugdale Park in May of 2026. The renovations included the addition of a new playground, splash pad, a walking path, and a picnic shelter. Throughout the park, a variety of nearly 100 trees were planted, increasing Waukegan’s tree canopy cover and providing a welcoming and beautiful green space for all.

Chicago Farm Labs

In the summer of 2026, a group of 20 interns from Chicago Farm Labs took a guided walk around Big Rock to learn about tree ID and forest ecosystems, then took a tour of the S&C labs and talked to scientists about their work and their pathways into tree science.

U.N.I.O.N Impact Center

On Saturday, August 11, U.N.I.O.N Impact Center, led by America Campos, organized their third annual Sherman Park Nature Festival. This event continues to evolve in gathering amazing local advocates—large and small—to celebrate the wildlife and public green space of Sherman Park. The storms did not slow anyone down! Resources such as backpacks and school supplies were provided at no cost for local families as well as opportunities to engage in Chicago Park District nature play designs, birdwatching, fishing, reptiles, trees, and more.

Forest Preserves of Cook County, Emerald Tree Care LLC, Davey Tree Expert Company, Openlands, and Graf Tree Care

On Friday, August 28, CRTI and partners gathered at Thatcher Woods to put on the Trees & Tacos Arboricultural Career Fair and networking event. The event offered demos of tree care work, employers booths for an opportunity to speak directly with tree care organizations, and ongoing demos of plant healthcare and tree ID. And of course, there were tacos!

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Become a Partner

Become a Partner

The Morton Arboretum welcomes everyone working to improve the health and the equitable distribution of the tree canopy in the Chicago region to become a partner of its Chicago Region Trees Initiative.

CRTI asks its partners to support its efforts for people and trees in at least one of these ways:

  • Committing to activities that can have a positive impact on the region’s trees and help meet regional goals.
  • Investing staff time or other resources to help achieve the goals outlined in the 2050 Master Plan for Trees.
  • Participating as an active member of a CRTI work group.

There is no fee associated with partnership, though donations and sponsorships are welcome.