Springfield, IL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Springfield's Sec. 99.22 bans a specific list of trees from public parkways, the strip of city-owned ground between the sidewalk and the curb: American Elm, Moline Elm, Vase and Hollyleaf Elm, Winged Elm, Cottonwood, Mulberry, Weeping Willow, any variety of fruit tree, and anything on the undesirable tree list in the Springfield Arbor-Culture Specifications Manual. These species were historically prone to disease, weak wood, or messy fruit drop in a right-of-way setting, and the ordinance keeps property owners from replanting them there even after storm or disease losses.

Beyond species, the section sets planting geometry. Any tree planted in a parkway must go in the center, an equal distance from the outer and inner boundary lines, so it doesn't crowd the sidewalk on one side or the curb on the other. Parkways narrower than 4.5 feet can't receive any tree species normally expected to reach 30 feet at maturity, and the same 30-foot-maturity restriction applies to any tree planted under utility lines, protecting overhead wires from future canopy conflicts.

Enforcement runs through the director of public works and the city arborist. Either official can order removal of a tree planted in violation of the species, placement, or size rules by giving written notice to whoever planted it. If that person doesn't remove the tree within a reasonable time after notice, the city can have it removed anyway and bill the responsible party for the cost, collectible by suit if unpaid. The chapter cross-references the Arbor-Culture Specifications Manual for the current undesirable list and the broader Chapter 102 urban forestry rules, and Sec. 50.23 covers pruning by City Water, Light and Power's electric division when trees interfere with power lines.