Peoria, Ill — The ongoing battle against a tree-killing beetle gets full attention as the Peoria Civic Center receives a donation of new trees.
At the same time, we learn the U.S. Government has given up on killing the insect.
23 new trees are being donated to the Civic Center in a partnership that includes The Morton Arboretum and Homefield Energy.
There will be an honorary tree planting at the Civic Center Tuesday in order to celebrate. Onlookers can expect several local dignitaries to be speaking there around 11:30 a.m.
The event is largely aimed to raise awareness to the ongoing challenges with Emerald Ash Borer Beetles in the region.
The small green beetles have been a plague on Central Illinois vegetation (including ash, elm, hickory and walnut) for nearly two decades along with many other regions around the country.
As of 2021, EAB (Emerald Ash Borer) is found in 35 states and 5 Canadian provinces. They are also found to emerge at sites far from their known locations, suggesting people continue to move infested ash wood long distances against regulations and guidance.
As recently as January, 2021, the USDA gave up on its program to eradicate the bug.
As for the new trees coming to the Peoria Civic Center. They reflect a new approach to our new lives with EAB.
That approach is to include as much variety in tree landscapes and tree canopies as possible.
The new trees make up 8 difference species.
Civic Center officials tell us the new trees will be planted to replace dead ones near the main parking lot entrance marqui and a separate grassy area along Jefferson Avenue and N. William Kumpf Boulevard.
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