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Special Events:
Earth Day/Arbor Day
 Thousands of communities around
the world will celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2009, and Arbor Day,
April 24, 2009, this month. In the spirit of these holidays, Des
Plaines is launching an "Idling Gets You Nowhere" campaign, in
conjunction with Earth Day, and will have an Arbor Day tree planting
ceremony at Algonquin Middle School, 767 E. Algonquin Road, Des
Plaines.
The "Idling
Gets You Nowhere" campaign will include public education about
car idling and designation of pilot "idle-free" zones at select
railroad crossings - a suggestion made by 6th Ward Alderman Walsten
and the Deep Green Committee. The pilot idle-free zones are
scheduled for Union Pacific (freight line) crossings at Oakton,
Algonquin, and Thacker. At these railroad crossings, drivers will be
asked to turn off their car engines while waiting for passing
freight trains. The program is voluntary and aims to educate
residents on the negative impacts, both financially and
environmentally, that unnecessary car idling has on the community.
According to the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus, of which Des
Plaines is a member:
- Excessive idling can damage an engine’s components. It’s a
myth that idling is good for an engine.
- Recent studies have found that ten seconds of idling uses more
fuel than restarting the engine. These studies dispel the old myth
that turning off your car for anything less than three minutes
"isn’t worth it".
- The best way to warm up an engine is to drive the vehicle, not
let it idle.
- One hour of idling burns up to a gallon of fuel.
- An idling vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than one
traveling 32 mph.
At 10:00 am on Friday, April 24, 2009 the City of Des Plaines
will observe Arbor Day with a tree planting ceremony at Algonquin
Middle School. Mayor Arredia will read the City’s Arbor Day
proclamation and assist students to plant a tree on the school
grounds. Lurvey’s Garden Center is generously donating the tree for
this year’s ceremony.
For twenty-one (21) years, Des Plaines has been recognized as a
Tree City. To qualify for annual Tree City designation, Des Plaines
must meet standards established by The Arbor Day Foundation and the
National Association of State Foresters. For more information, call
Des Plaines Public Works at 847-391-5464.
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