Emerald Ash Borer Forcing Residents to Get Creative at Weisman Park

As organizers sink thousands of dollars into Lake View’s Weisman Park for upgrades like seating, bushes and fresh mulch, one thing remains apparent: a big, dead tree.

The Weisman Park Advisory Council raised $600,000 three years ago to completely overhaul the playlot at 901 W. Oakdale Ave., adding everything from a splash-zone to new playground equipment. But even after a recent string of upgrades, the group sees room for improvement.

“We (redeveloped) the park three years ago, and now we’ve redone it again,” said council president Marie Poppy. “We planed 65 rose bushes, replaced the shrubs, and added new seating and benches. That was $15,000 we raised, but a couple of weeks ago, we heard from the Chicago Park District that one of our main trees is coming down.”

The enormous tree over the water feature and swing set is an ash tree, and similar to many others in Chicago, it’s infected by the emerald ash borer.

According to city statistics, ash makes up almost 20 percent of the city’s tree population, accounting for nearly 100,000 trees. That’s in addition to the estimated 500,000 ash trees on private property in Chicago.

The dying tree at Weisman Park caught the attention of CPD officials, and in the near future it’ll be removed. Now advisory council officials say to make up for the once-healthy shade tree, they need to raise more money.

“A shade structure of some kind is being explored,” Poppy said. “People often request two things: more seating, which we just added, and shade. … We need additional money to do that, and if people were supportive, we could have something in the works for next year.”

Poppy says the Weisman Park Advisory Council estimates the structure will cost about $10,000, so they’re calling on Lake View residents to help make the upgrade a possibility.

Anyone interested in donating to help improve the park can send a check of any amount to Friends of the Park/Weisman Park, addressed to Marie Poppy at 1113 W. Wolfram St., Chicago, IL, 60657. All donations are tax deductible and would help improve the neighborhood.

“We always appreciate the community’s contributions,” Poppy said.