The Champaign Park District currently plants over 100 trees per year, most of which have been donated to celebrate the birth of a child, honor the passing of a loved one or simply to recognize a special life moment. With nearly 10,000 trees in our inventory, donations play a vital role in keeping our parks beautiful.
Benefits of Trees:
- Park trees contain the equivalent of 31,000,000 pounds of CO2, a service worth over $730,000.00!
- The Ecosystem Champion Tree is a Sycamore in West Side Park, providing over $73/year in environmental services.
- The Carbon Champion Tree, an Eastern Cottonwood on Martin Luther King Trail contains the equivalent of over 100,000 lb. of CO2.
What kind of trees are available?
Deadline: Spring (March 1); Fall (September 1)
Questions: bret.johnson@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3850

Growing Together Trees
The Park District fully intends to maintain the trees for duration of their life, but longevity varies by species and environmental conditions.
Should a tree become diseased, vandalized, or damaged, the Park District will guarantee and replace the tree for (10) ten years. If unforeseen construction causes the removal of a program tree within (20) years of the time it was planted, the Park District will relocate or replace the tree.
Celebration Trees
Life is full of occasions to celebrate – the lives of loved ones, weddings, anniversaries, retirements, etc. The Champaign Park District’s Celebration Tree program offers opportunities to plant a tree in one of our parks to recognize those moments. See Tree Donation Prices tab for details.
Honor the life of a loved one with a Memorial Tree planted in one of our parks that will provide shade and happiness to all who visit. See Tree Donation Prices for details.
Benches
Memorial benches are another opportunity to honor someone special. A memorial bench can be placed with an honorary plaque along paths. There is limited availability. Contact Bret Johnson for more information: bret.johnson@champaignparks.org
Tree Donation Prices
A donation of $275 to the Champaign Parks Foundation, covers the cost of the tree, the installation by staff, and the maintenance of the tree for the duration of its life.
An additional donation of $200 will purchase a 9 x 5 cast bronze plaque to personalize the tree in the park. Space is limited to 150 characters.
Participants will receive a certificate and a map of the tree’s location within the park. A list of available species and parks is available by contacting Bret Johnson at bret.johnson@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3850.
Warranty
The Park District fully intends to maintain the trees for duration of their life, but longevity varies by species and environmental conditions.
Should a tree become diseased, vandalized, or damaged, the Park District will guarantee and replace the tree for (10) ten years. If unforeseen construction causes the removal of a program tree within (20) years of the time it was planted, the Park District will relocate or replace the tree.