Mokena to Replace Invasive Callery Pear Trees with Grant Funding

Mokena Village Board Meeting | September 22, 2025

Article Summary: Mokena will remove invasive Callery Pear trees throughout the village and plant new, non-invasive species, thanks to a matching grant from The Morton Arboretum. The Village Board awarded a $42,456 contract for the project, which aims to improve the health and ecological balance of the local urban forest.

Callery Pear Replacement Key Points:

• The project is funded by a reimbursable matching grant from the Chicago Region Tree Initiative.

• For every invasive Callery Pear tree removed, two new trees must be planted within the village.

• The Fields on Caton Farm, Inc. was awarded the $42,456 contract for the removal and planting work.

The Mokena Village Board on Monday, September 22, 2025, awarded a contract for $42,456 to begin removing and replacing invasive Callery Pear trees within the community. The project is supported by a grant secured from The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Tree Initiative.

Public Works Director Dan Peloquin explained that Callery Pear trees were officially classified as an invasive species by the State of Illinois in 2023 due to their rapid spread and negative ecological impacts.

The grant program targets the removal of these trees and requires a two-for-one replacement ratio. For every Callery Pear tree removed, two new, non-invasive trees must be planted within Mokena’s urban forest. Peloquin noted this will help strengthen the area’s ecological balance and expand the overall tree canopy.

The contract was awarded to The Fields on Caton Farm, Inc., of Crest Hill, which was the lowest of five qualified bidders. Peloquin stated the firm is well-established and has a strong track record with similar urban forestry projects. This is the second time Mokena has benefited from the regional tree program; in 2023, the village received funding to update its tree inventory.