ILLINOIS —To celebrate 25 years of prairie restoration and shared stewardship — and in honor of Arbor Day — volunteers, partners and staff from the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie planted bur oak trees in three neighboring communities. Bur oak is a native Illinois prairie tree.

Supervisor Wade Spang planted the trees with Elwood Village President Doug Jenco and Manhattan Mayor James Doyle.

“This bur oak tree represents a quarter-century of working together to increase and improve habitat for grassland birds and other Illinois prairie species native to our communities and neighborhoods,” said Midewin Spang. “When local, state and federal governments work together, residents of the communities we serve can feel that support and motivated to become more involved. We look forward to another 25 years of collaboration.”

Located at the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie was established Feb. 10, 1996, by the Illinois Land Conservation Act. Since then, land has been transferred in increments to the USDA Forest Service for prairie restoration and recreation, cattle grazing and row crop production, and research and education. So far, approximately 18,500 acres have been transferred, with more land to be transferred in the future.

“I would like to thank the USDA Forest Service,” Jenco said. “My father worked at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, and we spent a lot of time around here. It is fantastic that now we are great partners with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.”

At each of the plantings, Midewin staff provided information about the importance of trees. The USDA Forest Service estimates that for every 100 trees, 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants are removed from the environment each year.

The celebration of the prairie's 25th anniversary continues all year long. In addition to more bur oak tree planting events, several programs are scheduled — many of which will be streamed live. Learn more.