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1. MikeT
   Member

   On this forum, as well as in the TOD, there are occasionally statements of the views from the train and how unattractive the backs of the houses are along quincy and burlington and pine.

   I believe there is a good solution.

   PINE TREES.

   I have first hand experience of the great 4 season buffering effects these beautiful creatures can provide since we have planted them along Pine av. Can you imagine how pretty it would be coming thru on the train to or away from RIverside if there were pine trees on each side of the rails? It would be like going through Colorado! When the snows come, it would be breathtaking.

   In short, it would be the complete opposite of the aesthetic experience that one has now. and it would be very cheap.

   ...here is a bit of my experience with pines....
   They should rename Pine av, or at least sub text it to Tomecek way. W/ our meager earnings we have planted at least 15 trees in north Pine av between the tracks and the street to help buffer us from the train. I thought, well, not in my lifetime would I ever see any benefit, but not too many years later the trees that we have planted, tho just 5 ft to start, are 2-3 stories already! And the cost was very reasonable. Go by there sometime. We are very proud of these guys. We also planted maples, oaks, kentucky coffee, and a few others.

   We chose a lot of Pines for the 4 season buffering. There is a link to the name too (there was not one Pine on Pine til the Tomeceks came! ).

   I hope someone does not tell me that there are metra easements or something. I am sure the trees can be maintained whenever needed. trim them, take one out. put another in. I have done that on my street already and they just grow.

   Metra, it would increase ridership, since people would LOVE to watch that virtual colorado experience.

   trees, God's infrastructure.

   miket

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 00:22 #

2. KimJ
   Member

   Great idea Mike! If there is a go-ahead, I am sure all charitable groups in town would be happy to throw in their support! You are right, it would be gorgeous from the train, and perhaps a nicer thing to take pictures of from the bar car on a stalled Amtrack then the bathers at the swim club.

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 05:58 #

3. Catherine
   Member

   You might also require an easement from Mr Houlihan. Is any species of pine tree that is native to Northern Illinois? That would be a must for its health, duration, and the requirements of the Olmsted plan.

   As to the lack of budget for maintaining the trees cited by trustee Smith, I would support starting a tree fund for that purpose. Again, once the finances are made clear to the people, I am sure they would support it too. This would be a form of self-taxing.

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 10:05 #

4. ChrisHajer
   Member

   List of Native Trees for Use Along Roadsides (OK, it's not trains) in Illinois:
   http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/treetable.html

   Looks like eastern red cedar and eastern white pine. I think the village also has a list of approved native species approved for planting. Maybe a call to the forester is in order?

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 10:22 #

5. Catherine
   Member

   Chris, right, that is a great list too. I see one is fast growing and very tall. Yes, he could advise which would be best for the soil and sun conditions. Exactly whose land is this on? We could present this to the design committee.

   (I personally would also like to persuade all the property owners on Burlington and Quincy to adhere to Olmsted's rule of 2 trees between house and street, i.e. one on house lawn, one on parkway. Other streets would profit aesthetically from that as well.)

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 10:34 #

6. Aberdeen
   Member

   Excellent idea - It would be great if the forester, Olmsted, charitable groups and schools could coordinate and mobilize in time for an Arbor Day or Earth Day planting initiative!

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 10:45 #

7. CandiGrace
   Member

   The key question is: Who owns the property you're proposing to plant on? I know the railroad owns some of it and they have restrictions on how close you can plant and I believe what you can plant because they care about 'sight lines'. If the village owns it then you need a permit from Landscape Advisor Commission and it can only be on their approved list. If a person owns it then you need their permission.

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 11:01 #

8. Catherine
   Member

   Yes, CandiGrace, we know of the ownership issue. The will be on approved list because it is not on disapproved list and they are northern Illinois native species.

   Do you know anything about the ownership of where trees would serve the purpose described?

   What are the sightlines required by Metra or Burlington Northern? It would certainly serve Metra's purpose of increasing ridership. If it makes the town more attractive from the train, that can only draw in more residents and visitors.

   This leaves separate the issue of an initiative to plant two trees between homes and street. There are many homes outside the downtown that fail to do this as well, to the general detriment as well as their own.

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 11:15 #

9. MikeT
   Member

   Since we utilized the Village's cooperative planting program, we used the White Pine from that list. These trees, of course planted by the villager forester, seem to really like this soil and weather. Check them out some time. They are across the street from the Riverside garage.

   And, when the village tore down an ugly mulberry next to our home, the decision was easy, two white pines to replace it.

   mike

   Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 11:58 #

10. HRCollins
    Member

    Catherine - Are you saying that there are people who do not take the train because if they choose to look out the windows they see what many feel are unsightly backyards?

    Riverside backyards are better than the scenery when taking Harlem to 290 and going downtown.

    Posted Wednesday Jan 10, 2007 12:15 #

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