Highland Park’s annual Arbor Day Celebration returned on Saturday to the green space along Ravinia Festival’s parking lot.
“One of our favorite events of the year because it brings together so many different organizations that partner with us during the year to provide important services to the community,” Highland Park communications manager Amanda M. Bennett said.
Those organizations include the Solid Waste Agency of Cook County, Lakeshore Recycling Systems, the Highland Park Public Library and Park District, she said.
Amenities included an electric vehicle show.
Brian and Krys Grisko of Round Lake have owned an EV for more than two years and brought their second electric car to showcase in the show.
Brian Grisko said the truck saves “about 500 bucks a month in gas. I can do all the truck things, and it costs me pennies a day.”
Other amenities and giveaways included free native perennials such as foxglove beardtongue and Ohio spiderwort, plus purple coneflower echinacea seeds and bareroot native saplings.
Birds were also a favorite attraction. Children took turns petting and saying hello to Junior, a black-feathered chicken. Junior has brown feathers, too.
Junior is owned by Victor Walter, who works for Highland Park as its multimedia specialist. Junior sat in a raised, round rattan-looking chair in a padded pet bed.
“She’s pretty personable,” Walter said. “She’s spoiled,” adding that Junior got a cup of whipped cream at the drive-thru. “They were a little confused when we pulled up, and they saw a chicken in the passenger seat and not a dog. They were laughing.”
The Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education in Loves Park set up a display table featuring specimens and educational information about how birds control pests such as rodents and insects.
Live birds brought on to the event included an eastern screech owl, an American kestrel falcon, a female red-tailed hawk, a long-eared owl and a female great-horned owl. All the birds had been struck by vehicles and rehabilitated.
The birds, however, could not be taken out of their protective housing to show people because it was too windy outside.
But Candy Ridlbauer of the center spent time answering questions from visitors.
“Education is key because we need to let people know why we all need raptors and that’s our mission, to let the word out,” she said. “Eighty percent of these birds don’t make it their first year.”
David Ross of Highland Park brought his children, Remi, 20 months, and Brody, 5, as a way to get them away from screens at home.
“That’s why we’re here,” Ross said. “Brody loves the trucks, and it’s a great way to get them out. We’re really excited for the birds, too.”
Nicole Petrich of Highland Park carried potted native perennials as giveaways.
“It’s a chance to get out and get some additional plants that are needed,” she said. “Getting out and seeing neighbors is good.”
