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Children & Elders Forest Project hosts tree dedication
By Sharon K. Wolfe
swolfe@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Sisters Lauren and Sydney Casey are just 3½ and 2 years old, but the daughters of Scott and Melissa Casey were old enough to keep a tall secret for a couple of weeks.

An early surprise Christmas present for their grandparents was buying a tree at Winter Hill Grove in Ewing Park III.

“It will be kind of nice to share my gift with not only my family but the whole town,” said Dale Durham, Tremont, one of the grandparents surprised Saturday morning. The others are Mike and Shirley Casey, both of Pontiac, and Sandy Durham, of Normal.

All three generations of the family are named on the tag on the tree.

The three was among 37 dedicated Saturday as part of the ongoing Children & Elders Forest Project, which has been establishing groves of trees dedicated to various people. While the focus is honoring families across generations, the trees can be dedicated anyone.

The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department planted the trees Friday to expand Winter Hill Grove. The trees dot the landscape of a park well-known for sledding.

Donors paid $150 per tree, and on Saturday they got to spread mulch around their trees and hang dedication tags on the branches.

Retired Illinois State University history professor Joe Grabill conceived the idea a few years ago after his granddaughter living in a German village showed him “her” tree. She and other children had trees planted in a grove in their honor with their names on them.

“Something about a tree is magical,” said Grabill.

The project began in 2005 with 95 trees in the now-complete Turtle Grove in Maxwell Park, Normal. It later was joined in the same park by Eagle Grove.

Forty-five trees were planted in Eagle Grove last year, and a similar event at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 17 will mark the recent planting of 31 more trees there. There’s room for 34 more trees in that grove.

Winter Hill Grove was started last year with 55 trees, and there is room for 31 more. Winter Hill appeals to many families because they have sledded there for generations.

While the German concept honored only children, Grabill decided to extend it to generations of families because it can be a bonding experience for them.

He recalled a story from 2005 that he said touched him deeply: Jim and Barbara Broach’s grandchildren, James, then 4, and Kate, then 3, were so excited about their tree, declaring they were “going to bring their grandchildren to see the tree they planted when they were little.”

Planting trees is another way for families to feel like they are truly part of the community, he said.

Organizers hope to fill the remaining slots at Ewing Park III first, and they hope to do that by selling Christmas gift certificates for trees to be planted next November.

While the tree planting concept was his idea, Grabill pointed out it would not happen with the teamwork of volunteers the cities’ donation of labor to plant the trees.

A Christmas idea

Buying a tree to be dedicated in one of the Children & Elders Forest Project groves costs $150.

-- Checks should be made out to Bloomington Park and Recreation for Winter Hill Grove and Normal Parks and Recreation for Eagle Grove

-- Send to Joe Grabill, 21 Knollcrest Court, Normal, IL 61761.

-- The deadline for buying a tree is Dec. 9.

-- Call (309) 454-2883 for more information.

-- Registration forms are available online at www.normal.org/go/forest

Take a look
Trees are being labeled and planted in the Winter Hill Grove, Children and Elders Forest, in Ewing Park III. Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY
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Reader comments on this story - 2 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Concerned grandma wrote on Nov 14, 2007 6:57 AM:

" How ironic that a wonderful project such is this is destroying a wonderful winter playground for the children in Bloomington-Normal. Already trees cover favorite sledding areas, rocks and benches have been placed where they are dangerous to sledders in the winter time. Cross country runner's "track" is now filled with trees, soccer players find their playing area getting smaller. We're in the park all year round and see how the park is used. We just can't believe that a wonderful open area such as this is being filled with trees. Aren't there other areas less used that would serve just as well? Try watching children sledding down a hill with trees supported with stakes and wires and not get really scared for the children! Don't take this park away from the children!! "

Quick Correction wrote on Nov 11, 2007 8:23 AM:

" Lauren & Sydney are twins, they are 3 1/2. "
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