Cook County adopted a Tree Master Plan in 2024 directing canopy investment to south and west suburbs where coverage falls below 15 percent. The plan funds municipal partnerships, native-species plantings, and equity-weighted grants under the Department of Environment and Sustainability.
The Cook County Tree Master Plan, developed with the Chicago Region Trees Initiative and Morton Arboretum, mapped canopy coverage across 130 suburbs and unincorporated areas. South Cook municipalities including Harvey, Robbins, and Ford Heights show coverage as low as 7 percent versus 35-plus percent in northern suburbs like Glenview and Wilmette. The plan directs Cook County Forestry funds, IDOT urban forestry grants, and Sustain Cook County dollars toward priority equity tracts. Plantings emphasize native oaks, hickories, and tulip poplar over short-lived species. The Forest Preserves Conservation Foundation supplements plantings on private parcels through the South Suburban Climate Equity Initiative.
The plan is a policy framework, not a regulatory ordinance, so it imposes no resident fines. Municipalities receiving grants must meet planting and maintenance benchmarks or face clawback of remaining grant disbursements.
See how Arlington Heights's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
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