HR0179 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0179 LRB096 11990 GRL 23691 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 is separated by the Calumet River and the south side of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Riverdale is home to the State's largest butternut tree (Juglans cinerea); the tree is documented to be 360-plus years old by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division; and

WHEREAS, Notable and outstanding characteristics of Riverdale's urban forest is a unique diversity of Southern trees, which are not common in the Chicago area, including Shumard Oak (Quercus Shumardii), Sweet gum (Liquidambar Slyraciflua), Cumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus flordia), and White Basswood (Tilia hererophylla); the village also has outstanding fall color displayed on major streets by Sugar Maple (Acer saccharin), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), White Ash (Fraxinus americana) and Sweet gum (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 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 recognizes the Village of Riverdale as a "Tree City USA" Community, honoring the commitment of the village to 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 over three feet in diameter, muffles noise, protects the soil, improves air quality, provides beauty, and serves as a windbreak; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH 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 Riverdale Mayor Zenovia G. Evans as a symbol of our esteem and respect.