The Village of Bridgeview, the Township of Lyons, Sag Moraine Native Plant Community, and local residents came out to plant 2,000 baby plants at the S2 entrance to Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday, August 3rd.
Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg explained the goals of the project. “We are thrilled to partner with the Village of Bridgeview to create a pollinator-friendly, serene, and aesthetically pleasing landscape at Bridgeview’s Stadium. These native perennial plants require less effort to maintain, saving money while benefiting the environment.”
The planting included seven different species of pollinator plants native to the area that benefit the environment. Black-Eyed Susans, Purple Coneflowers, and Wild Petunias all bloom in the height of summer and are adored by butterflies, bees, and even hummingbirds. Stiff Goldenrods and Sky Blue Asters, two key Illinois species, similarly support pollinators. Finally, the Prairie Dropseed and Little Bluestem, two native grass species, provide comfortable winter habitats and food for native birds.
The Township-funded project included planting native plants at Bridgeview’s Village Hall and led into a native tree-planting at the Stadium on September 7th to further support beautification and environmental investment, with the Village of Bridgeview, Township of Lyons, Local Lions Clubs, school district members, volunteers, and the conservation non-profit Openlands planting 33 trees along 71st Street bordering SeatGeek Stadium. Volunteers shoveled dirt, moved trees, and planted them with hours of hard work that left people sweating but satisfied with the wonderful project. Jazmin Lopez, the Executive Director of the Mental Health Commission of Lyons Township, had applied for a grant from Openlands to receive the trees to beautify the community and improve residents’ mental health by providing more green space to an urban area.
The trees planted were picked specifically for the location, meaning they can survive salt trucks and pollution from the busy street traffic. Openlands is committed to maintaining the trees with mulch and pruning for the next six years while Bridgeview’s Public Works Department will ensure they are properly watered. The Openlands organizations has a 90% tree survival rate, so most if not all of the planted trees will grow to be beautiful green gems lining the road along Bridgeview’s Stadium. The Village of Bridgeview thanks all who attended the tree planting for making it possible.
