Partnerships help TRANSFORM - OpenLands
Over the years, Hazel Crest has diversified their urban forest and transformed the Open Lands from a buckthorn brush jungle into a woodland park. The transformation of the Open Lands in the past 25 years is the result of countless volunteer hours by many different people, the support of the Public Works Department, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, Cook County SWAP program, Possibility Place Nursery, The Morton Arboretum, and the elected officials of Hazel Crest.
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Karl Persons is the one who has constantly dedicated himself and encouraged large group of volunteers to participate in this transformation. He started working in the Village of Hazel Crest in 1991 as Park Superintendent for the Hazel Crest Park District. He got his ISA Arborist Certification while working at the Park District. In 1999, Karl was hired by the Village Department of Public Works as a maintenance man and he left the Park District.
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Both Debbie Jones, Hazel Crest Beautification Commission chair and Dr. George Ware, Elm Research Specialist of The Morton Arboretum had great impact on Karl’s interest in trees.
In 1992, Karl started working with Dr. George Ware of Morton Arboretum to plant many of his hybrid Elms on public lands throughout the Village until 2012. (Even today, Stephanie Adams from Morton Arboretum continuous this legacy by contributing new Hybrid Elms such as Anshu Elms from China as well as some Lacebark Elms.)
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“Early in the 1990s, Debbie Jones, Hazel Crest Beautification Commission chair asked me to help her for a couple hours on a Saturday to remove some brush from the Open Lands. Then it became most Saturdays, weather permitting and the Open Committee was formed and then we recruited more volunteers to help us.” Karl Persons explains, “We then enlisted the help of SWAP (Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program) for two Saturdays a month from March through November until the current Cook County Board President decided that municipalities should pay for using the program”.
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As the invasive buckthorn brush was removed, Karl lead the replanting of about 200 different species. Some of these plants were gifts, some were seedlings, some were purchased from 50/50 programs and the rest came from a local nursery that didn’t have room to move them up.
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Throughout the years, Hazel Crest’s volunteer program helped many young people that needed community service hours. Karl motivated these “Volunteers” to help in the Open Lands and to care for the world around them. In 2015, Hazel Crest hosted a summer program for eight teenagers for six weeks.
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Karl’s influence goes beyond the boundaries of Hazel Crest. He has given talks at Open Lands Commission meetings and at Homewood’s “Green Thumb Saturday” as well as at the neighboring communities Homeowner Association meetings and has helped communities become Tree City USA.
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As part of the management outreach and public events, Karl tries to inspire people to care about trees at every venue he attends. It’s in his DNA. He has done this at Inca Packamama Celebrations (Saturday before Mother’s Day) held in Open Lands, during Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday Celebrations, on Spring and Fall Tours and Hayrides through Open Lands as part of the Village Hazelnut celebrations.
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Each year for the Tree City USA Arbor Day celebrations, the Master Gardeners conduct the event “Trees are Terrific” Program for the Kindergarteners at the local schools. Where they plant a different tree species at the school each year at the event. The Village’s annual Arbor Day tree planting is held in the Open Lands.
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An enthusiastic learner Karl along with his wife attended ISA Conferences in St. Louis, Chicago, Sydney Australia, and Portland Oregon. After the Portland conference they then motored through western Washington and took an Alaskan Cruise and after the Sydney Conference they toured Australia for another 10 days. Also, they have visited many national parks seeing many of the county's natural wonders including the coastal redwoods. They are trying to grow a couple of Giant Sequoias and few Dawn Redwoods that are doing just fine in the Open Lands.
Karl uses his 28 years’ experience working with trees and more than 10 years in the wood working industry to mold the lives of volunteers while creating a livable green space for all to enjoy.
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“I am always trying to learn more and see more! And then to share that information with others!” says Karl.
Karl’s favorite tree is Bur Oak - the Majestic Oak of the Illinois Prairies! “ I Just wish that the Bur Oak had notable fall color - but nobody is perfect.”