Cook County Forest Preserve to cut down 9,000 diseased trees

CHICAGO — The Cook County Forest Preserve has announced plans to cut down about 9,000 diseased trees.

County officials say all the targeted trees will be cut by mid-January. The dying trees stand in picnic groves, along trails and near parking lots, making pre-emptive action necessary so they won’t fall and cause injuries.

Petra Blix, a community activist who lives on Chicago’s northwest side near the Pucinski Forest Preserve, says the action will destroy healthy trees and turn picnic areas into uncomfortable, desert-like islands.

Forest Preserve Superintendent Arnold Randall says only infested and dying trees will be removed.

The forest preserve is spending about $950,000 to remove 7,724 trees invested with emerald ash borer with another 1,238 trees being mostly elms with Dutch elm disease. Randal says the trees will be replaced.