Galewood's Green Canopy Is Growing — And You Can Still Get a Free Tree for Your Parkway

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Galewood · April 20, 2026

Galewood has always been known for its tree-lined blocks and suburban charm — and thanks to a remarkable grassroots effort, those famous streets are getting even greener. Galewood Neighbors, Inc. has successfully planted over 100 trees in neighborhood parkways through its Tree Ambassador Program, a initiative born from a federal USDA grant secured in partnership with the Chicago Region Tree Initiative and the City of Chicago's Our Roots Program. It's a milestone worth celebrating: Galewood was one of only a few community organizations in the entire city to win the competitive grant.

Fueling the effort is a dedicated squad of four Tree Ambassadors — passionate neighbors who completed specialized Tree Ambassador Training and have spent the past two-plus years not only planting trees, but knocking on doors, flyering nearly 5,000 homes across Galewood, and connecting with well over 250 community members to spread the word about the ecological and health benefits of a strong urban tree canopy. Leading the charge is Tom Drebenstedt, a Galewood Neighbors board member, Openlands Certified TreeKeeper, and co-steward of the Rutherford Sayre Park Natural Area — the kind of neighbor every block wishes it had.

Here's the best part: the program is ongoing, and if you don't yet have a tree in your parkway, you can still request one for free. Just email [email protected] to get your name on the list. Spring is the perfect time to plant roots — literally.

Sources:
1. https://galewoodneighbors.org/Tree-Program