Oak Park, whose very name derives from a tree, should rethink its relationship with the tree’s most visible manifestation — its leaves. There is, of course the issue of leaf blowers (see Ken Trainor, Viewpoint, Nov. 3). Beyond the blowers is the issue of horticultural practice — experienced gardeners know that leaves as mulch return nutrients to the soil and promote a healthy lawn. Then there is the issue of cost; the village pays over $200,000 per year to have leaves collected and disposed of. And then there are the adverse consequences of all this for the climate: blowers, trucks, and loaders consuming fuel and spewing fumes and harmful gases. Doing away with leaf collection and the associated raking and blowing would be a win-win-win-win: a win for the grass, a win for taxpayers, a win for residents spared the noise of leaf blowers, and a win for the climate. The village board could take a first step in this regard by ending the destructive practice of leaf collection.
James Thompson
Oak Park