Palmer Square's First Winter Arboretum Festival Draws Community to Historic Park
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Palmer Square ·
Palmer Square residents are embracing the winter season with a special celebration of their park's recent historic designation as Chicago's first officially accredited arboretum. The inaugural Winter Arboretum Festival, taking place this weekend at Palmer Square Park, offers guided winter tree identification walks, illuminated displays highlighting notable trees, and family-friendly activities designed to connect neighbors while appreciating the park's impressive collection of over 200 trees representing 28 different species.
The park received Level I arboretum accreditation from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program in September 2025, administered by the Morton Arboretum in suburban Lisle. It is the first Chicago Park District property to receive this prestigious designation, recognizing it as a living museum of trees and other woody plants. The arboretum classification gives more weight to tree preservation and education for the Palmer Square area, with species now clearly labeled throughout the park for educational tours and walks. Visitors to this weekend's festival can also enjoy the Palmer Square Winter Bazaar, which features local artisans, seasonal refreshments, and community workshops in the former Extraordinarium retail space.
The Winter Arboretum Festival represents the culmination of decades of community effort that began in 1980, when homeowner Steve Hier moved to the area and founded the Homeowners Association of Palmer Square. At that time, the park had only about 37 trees, so the neighborhood group began planting trees every spring and fall with expenses covered by donations and fundraisers. "Now there's over 200 trees in there and I gotta guess that we planted about 150 of them," Hier noted. "The glue that held the neighbors together was a common commitment to make this park green." Residents are encouraged to participate in the weekend's festivities and learn more about winter tree identification at this unique urban arboretum.
Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/07/palmer-square-park-named-chicago-park-districts-first-arboretum/
2. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/palmer-john-mcauley-square-park
3. https://thechristmas.com/blogs/events/chicago-christmas-guide-2025