Tree Donation to Beautify Kane County Government Center and Third Street Courthouse

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Kane County's canopy of trees has grown by 19, thanks to a dedicated volunteer group and an initiative called Greening Geneva. The donated trees are now planted at the Kane County Government Center and Third Street Courthouse. 

The trees include both natives (oaks, tulip poplar) and cultivars (Espresso Kentucky coffee tree, State Street Maple, Frontier Elm and Linden).  Twelve trees were planted at the Kane County Government Center and seven were planted at the Courthouse.  The value of the donated trees is approximately $16,500.

Jay Womack is a Geneva resident and longtime Chairman of The Natural Resources Committee of Geneva, the all-volunteer group that created the Greening Geneva initiative in response to trees lost to the Emerald Ash Borer.

“We started the (Greening Geneva) initiative almost 12 years ago and have been planting trees in the parkways every year.  Because we are a City entity, we can only plant trees that are NOT in front of a person's home, so we have been concentrating mostly in the downtown area."

Womack says the funding for the trees is made possible through their annual fundraiser held the last Saturday in February, and that this year's event was a big success.

“We had over 400 people, raised just over 50K and set the bar really high for the social event of the year in Geneva."

Wasco Nursery provided and planted the trees on behalf of The Natural Resources Committee of Geneva. 

To learn more about the work of The Natural Resources Committee and see an interview with Womack, visit https://www.geneva.il.us/528/Natural-Resources-Committee.