From Park to Arboretum: Palmer Square's Accredited Green Gem Is Ready for Its Spring Close-Up

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Palmer Square · March 26, 2026

Palmer Square Park has always been something special — but now it's officially certified that way. In September 2025, Palmer Square Park received a Level I arboretum accreditation from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program, administered by The Morton Arboretum. It made history as the first Chicago Park District location ever to earn the designation through ArbNet, the only accreditation program in the world specific to arboreta. The honor recognizes the park's extraordinary commitment to its tree canopy, which includes over 28 varieties of trees and a celebrated historic elm grove — the product of more than 45 years of grassroots stewardship by neighbors and the Palmer Square Park Advisory Council.

With spring arriving and the park's elm canopy beginning to bud, there's no better time to walk the grounds of what is now, officially, one of Chicago's most remarkable outdoor spaces. The Chicago Park District's spring programs at nearby Palmer (Potter) Park are also now open for registration, with sessions running from March 30 through June 7, 2026 — giving families even more reason to plug into the neighborhood's rich network of parks and green space this season.

If you haven't taken a slow lap around the park's 7.69 acres lately, this spring is the moment. Visit palmersquareparkcouncil.org for stewardship events and volunteer opportunities, and head to chicagoparkdistrict.com to register for spring programs. Palmer Square's trees have earned their accolades — now come out and enjoy them.

Sources:
1. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/palmer-john-mcauley-square-park
2. https://arbnet.org/morton-register/palmer-square-park/
3. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/palmer-potter-park