The Village of Mokena is taking proactive steps to improve its urban forest by removing dozens of invasive Callery Pear trees from public parkways, funded in part by a grant from The Morton Arboretum.

On June 23, the Village Board awarded a $15,484 contract to Homer Tree Care Service of Lockport to remove approximately 60 of the problematic trees throughout the village, with about 10 located along Front Street.

The Callery Pear, often sold as the Bradford Pear, was designated as an invasive species by the State of Illinois in 2023. Public Works Director Dan Peloquin explained that while the trees are known for their showy white flowers and rapid growth, they have significant drawbacks.

“The Callery Pear is problematic in that it is generally a weak tree, susceptible to a lot of damage, especially in snow and ice storms,” Peloquin said. He added that the tree’s seeds are easily dispersed, allowing it to take over open spaces and crowd out native species.

The removal project is being funded through a grant from The Morton Arboretum as part of the Chicago Region Tree Initiative. The grant requires the village to replace the removed trees at a 2-to-1 ratio, helping to diversify and strengthen the local tree canopy. The new trees will be planted as a separate project coordinated with appropriate planting seasons.

The project will be an ongoing effort over several years. Trees slated for removal will be marked, and stumps will be ground down and restored with dirt and seed after removal.