Villa Park Environmental Concerns Commission opposes this destructive policy

Village of Villa Park
Environmental Concerns Commission
20 South Ardmore Ave., Villa Park, IL 60181

January 26, 2003

DuPage County Board Chairman, Robert Schillerstrom
DuPage County Board Members, Districts 1 and 2: Yolanda Compuzano, Roger Jenisch,
William Maio, Patrick O'Shea, Brien Sheahan, and Irene Stone
DuPage County Division of Transportation, Pam Rion (Chairman), Chuck Tokarski
DuPage County Environmental Committee Chairman, Tom Bennington
All located at: 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187

Talk about "Lack of Truth in Advertising!" The DuPage County Web Site features pictures of the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail with beautiful trees and natural plants along the entire path, showing only a 5 to 6 foot open shoulder area directly along the path. In fact, the photos make the path look downright wooded! Now, The DuPage County Division of Transportation is already in the process of cutting trees and destroying plants up to 15 feet off the path. WHAT can these people possibly be thinking?

The Villa Park Environmental Concerns Commission is COMPLETELY OPPOSED to this destructive policy for the following reasons:

• Damaging or cutting down the trees along the IPP or the GWT would lower property values for home owners bordering the paths as well as for bordering municipal parks and recreational areas. It has been estimated that for every mature tree over 10 years old, a property increases in value by $5,000 to $10,000. Thus, the cutting down of trees along the path would constitute wanton destruction of valuable property owned by municipalities and individuals bordering the paths.
• The ONLY beauty of these paths IS their trees and natural plants! HELLO!! How can anyone possibly think that cutting a 15 foot "DEAD ZONE" and replacing it with a "Barren Desert of Lawn" will be some kind of improvement?
• Many areas contain native wildflowers, such as prairie phlox, coneflowers, woodland wildflowers, native berry bushes, fruit and nut-bearing trees, sunflowers and milkweeds. Many of these plants are irreplaceable, because they require specific elements in the soil to reproduce and they are plants required by butterflies, birds, and mammals in Illinois as food sources. Nothing can replace these valuable plants. Once you've destroyed their natural habitat, it would take thousands and thousands of dollars to ever replace them.
• The DuPage County Forest Preserve District has for many years talked about "wildlife corridors" that they have worked VERY HARD to develop here in the County, so that wildlife can get from one forest preserve area to another safely. Destroying this enormous amount of trees and vegetation along the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail would constitute a hazard to wildlife (birds and mammals) that shelter in the trees and vegetation along the paths. Such destruction could be detrimental to their continued existence, particularly since many of the plants and trees bear fruit and nuts which provide vital food sources for local as well as migrating animals.
• The planting of grass requires weekly maintenance for mowing and watering in dry conditions. Established trees and certainly native plants do NOT require any maintenance whatsoever. Doesn't it make economic sense to keep the path the way it is and NOT to clearcut it in a 15-foot swath that will have to be constantly tended and maintained?

In closing, we repeat that the Environmental Concerns Commission of Villa Park is completely opposed to the DuPage County Division of Transportation's policy of cutting trees and destroying native plants in a 15-foot swath along the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail.

Lorraine Bondi, Chairman
Bernita DeSalvo, Commissioner
Jenny McBride, Deputy Chairman
Jan Stortz, Commissioner
Ellen Stortz, Recording Secretary
Clarence Albertson, Commissioner