HR0966 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0966 LRB097 21155 KXB 68634 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, One hundred and seventeen years ago, Riverdale, the "Best Little Village in Illinois," was formed; the village is located 23 miles south of the Chicago Loop; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Riverdale is home to the State's largest butternut tree (Juglans cinerea), the official tree of Riverdale; and

WHEREAS, Notable and outstanding characteristics of Riverdale's urban forest are a unique diversity of Southern trees, which are common in the Chicago area, including Shumard Oaks (Quercus Shumardii), Sweet gums (Liquidambar Styracflua), Cumber Trees (Magnolia acuminata), Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus florida), and White Basswoods (Tilia hereophylla); the village also has outstanding fall color displayed on major streets by Sugar Maples (Acer saccharinum), Red Maples (Acer rubrum), White Ashes (Fraxinus Americana), and Sweet gums (Liquidamber styraciflua), as well as a rare bird migration through the urban forest of the east Ivanhoe section; all of this activity is packed into a village with a residential population of 16,050; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Riverdale's Board of Trustees created a Riverdale Tree Commission in 2002, composed of volunteer residents and an arborist; the commission's purpose is to design and implement the Village Tree Program and conduct community-wide educational efforts to publicize the benefits of trees; and

WHEREAS, The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the Village of Riverdale as a "Tree City USA" community for 11 years, honoring the commitment of the village to provide a comprehensive community forestry program; and

WHEREAS, The majestic urban forest cools the air, provides oxygen, shades homes and outdoor activities from the sun, invites song birds into backyards and gardens, lines streets (where the trees reach a height of 100 feet and are over 3 feet wide), muffles noise, protects the soil, improves air quality, provides beauty, and serve as a windbreak; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support the Village of Riverdale Tree Commission's continued active participation in shaping Riverdale, the "Best Little Village In Illinois", into a "Green" community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Riverdale Tree Commission as a symbol of our esteem and respect.