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Map 1-8: Park Access by Acre Per 1,000 Residents in Berwyn
Tree Inventory Berwyn’s tree population is an important natural resource that provides essential environmental, aesthetic, and economic benefits to the community. Tree planting and care promotes a steady population of healthy trees which bring benefits to the current and future residents of Berwyn. According to Berwyn’s Department of Urban Forestry 2013 report, the city has a total of 12,981 public trees, which provide an annual environmental contribution calculated at approximately $2,315,175, with an appraised value of $20.6 million dollars.33 However, due to the large number of Ash trees (12.3%) which are highly susceptible to disease - Berwyn’s current inventory of mature trees to date may have diminished significantly.
Legend: <1 acre per 1,000 people 1 - 4 acres per 1,000 people 4 - 10 acres per 1,000 people
Natural Environmental Assessment This section provides information on Berwyn’s open space, green infrastructure, and air quality. Understanding the existing conditions of Berwyn’s natural environment and connection to environmental resources will help to identify opportunities or issues that may impact the city’s sustainability and overall resilience in the face of climate change. Parks & Open Space Berwyn has very few parks and open green spaces, as demonstrated by Map 1-8. The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) has a standard of 10 acres of open space for every 1,000 residents, and according to CMAP, the vast majority of Berwynians have less than one acre of park space per 1,000 people, with a small section of the southeast having between four and ten acres of parks and open green spaces per 1,000 residents.36 While this is the highest acreage of parks per 1,000 people in Berwyn, many neighboring municipalities, such as
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Figure 1-9: Air Quality Index for Berwyn, in Days.
Oak Park and North Riverside, have much higher figures. Parks and green spaces contribute greatly to the overall quality of life and provide important environmental benefits. It is critical that Berwyn create programs and policies that support the efficient use of acreage to conserve the already limited number of green spaces, as well as promote the transformation of brown and greyfield properties.
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Air Quality Index As seen below, the average annual air quality in Berwyn is 56-moderate, on the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale from 0-500 (AQI over 300 is considered hazardous).34 The most common air pollutants in the area are particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and Ozone(O3), both of which are created from the burning of fossil fuels, however, O3 is perpetuated by what is known as urban heat island effect. 35Berwyn is susceptible to PM2.5 and O3 due to major traffic arteries lacking tree canopy, impermeable surface, and its geographic positioning.
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