Chicago tree-canopy (Lincoln, Washington, Lakewood: neighborhoods, living in, move)

[DSMHawk]

hey all-

i'm currently living in Washington, DC, and anticipating a move later this year, with Chicago being the primary target for relocation. Originally from the Midwest (Iowa), I'm very familiar with the area, and have always envisioned myself one day living in Chicago.

Anyway, over the course of my 3 years living in DC, I've grown very attached to the high quantity of street trees throughout the city. Urban forestry is a big focus here, and the canopy is impressive. I enjoy being able to see native trees while walking throughout my neighborhood in particular, and throughout the city - not just in parks and around monuments.

In my looking toward Chicago, I've developed a perception of there being a lack of tree canopy, thinking particularly of urban neighborhoods. What are the forum's thoughts on that? What is the tree coverage really like in various neighborhoods. (for example, targeting the Lincoln Square/North Center areas).

So, I'm basically looking for reassurance that there are street trees in Chicago, so that I can once again be comfortable and confident in my leading relocation candidate. Thanks for the help!

[marothisu]

There are a lot of trees in Chicago. Perhaps DC has the highest percentage of them apparently (I've heard that elsewhere) but Chicago has a lot of them. Now, you will not find them on the MAIN commercial streets as much (though they do exist), but on the residential ones they are everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. Don't know why you'd think otherwise.

I'll give you some examples in Google Street View:

* Lincoln Park - https://www.google.com/maps?ll=41.92...srMDNLm85xaHpQ

* Lake View - https://www.google.com/maps?q=Broadw...dLfNmhqFYn5e4g

* Lincoln Square - https://www.google.com/maps?q=ainsli...nt4VRckx08Bntw

* Hyde Park - https://www.google.com/maps?q=blacks...yhikNog5vgD_2g

* Wicker Park - https://www.google.com/maps?q=hoyne+...OhZjArwCnxSd2Q

* Bridgeport - https://www.google.com/maps?q=aberde...Pa7qwOAoab5UaA

[Chi-town Native]

I think this will allay your fears:

City of Chicago : Chicago Trees Initiative | Improving Chicago's Urban Forest

Although I will be upfront that Chicago - and every other midwestern American city- is eventually going to have a catastrophe as far as ash trees are concerned thanks to that damned emerald ash borer.

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by DSMHawk

hey all-

i'm currently living in Washington, DC, and anticipating a move later this year, with Chicago being the primary target for relocation. Originally from the Midwest (Iowa), I'm very familiar with the area, and have always envisioned myself one day living in Chicago.

Anyway, over the course of my 3 years living in DC, I've grown very attached to the high quantity of street trees throughout the city. Urban forestry is a big focus here, and the canopy is impressive. I enjoy being able to see native trees while walking throughout my neighborhood in particular, and throughout the city - not just in parks and around monuments.

In my looking toward Chicago, I've developed a perception of there being a lack of tree canopy, thinking particularly of urban neighborhoods. What are the forum's thoughts on that? What is the tree coverage really like in various neighborhoods. (for example, targeting the Lincoln Square/North Center areas).

So, I'm basically looking for reassurance that there are street trees in Chicago, so that I can once again be comfortable and confident in my leading relocation candidate. Thanks for the help!

Plenty and a lot of canopies. As mentioned before the main arteries and downtown really won't have much. But everywhere else, the residential streets have tons of canopies.

My mom has international students and that is one of the first comments they make is the amount of trees that we have here.

I have been to DC five times and I don't find the tree coverage to be all that different from Chicago. I would put them at about the same.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

Plenty and a lot of canopies. As mentioned before the main arteries and downtown really won't have much. But everywhere else, the residential streets have tons of canopies.

My mom has international students and that is one of the first comments they make is the amount of trees that we have here.

I have been to DC five times and I don't find the tree coverage to be all that different from Chicago. I would put them at about the same.

Although true in general, there are some streets (unsure if this can be extended to neighborhoods) that clearly are lacking.

Unfortunately some of our more clueless citizens (such as my next door neighbors) see trees as a nuisance to be cleaned up after, as opposed to understanding they are a precious resource that provides cooling shade, shelter for wildlife & protection against flooding.

[Maintainschaos]

Edgewater has some very beautiful tree-lined streets. Not sure if I'd consider it a "canopy," but it has a really nice, residential, homey feel to it.

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Although true in general, there are some streets (unsure if this can be extended to neighborhoods) that clearly are lacking.

Unfortunately some of our more clueless citizens (such as my next door neighbors) see trees as a nuisance to be cleaned up after, as opposed to understanding they are a precious resource that provides cooling shade, shelter for wildlife & protection against flooding.

Of course, but for a city it's size I thinkChicago does very well in this area. I have noticed that on the far Northwest side hey are lacking. Or maybe it's because it becomes so sprawly? I dunno.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Maintainschaos

Edgewater has some very beautiful tree-lined streets. Not sure if I'd consider it a "canopy," but it has a really nice, residential, homey feel to it.

Lakewood Balmoral and Edgewater Glen are beautiful.

[emathias]

It varies a lot. There are, of course, not that many trees in the Loop. There aren't many in River North or Streeterville. But the older neighborhoods have area with big, beautiful old trees. That said, a lot of the reason there are so many small trees is that there was the asian long-horn beetle which killed a lot of bigger, older trees and the replacements haven't had the necessary decades to regrow.

Certainly there aren't nearly as many of the beautiful, street-covering canopies like you see in some older Southern towns. But there are a good number of streets with nice treescapes. For me, North Racine Ave sticks in my mind as having some particularly nice tree-lined sections, as does North Dearborn Parkway.

[Irishtom29]

Many neighborhoods were hard hit by Dutch Elm disease in the 60s and 70s. Austin Blvd. used to look like a green tunnel during the Spring and Summer.