Palatine Park District offers several options through Palatine Park Foundation for Living Tributes. Palatine Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation and all donations received through the Foundation are fully tax deductible as a charitable contribution. A Living Tribute can be purchased to honor the memory of a loved one or to commemorate one of life’s special events. There are several options available for Living Tributes:
- Adopt an existing tree
- Purchase a new tree to be planted
- Purchase a bench to be placed in a park
- Commemorate your tribute with a plaque
Trees
Palatine Park District maintains over 5,000 trees throughout the Parks, along the Palatine Trail and at Palatine Hills Golf Course. Many of these are specimen quality trees and are available for adoption as a Living Tribute. There is no cost to adopt a tree.
If you wish to purchase a new tree to be planted, the Park District maintains a list of species to choose from. These are divided into three categories:
- Large deciduous shade trees
- Smaller ornamental trees
- Special trees (acquisition and cultural restraints)
A new tree can be planted for the cost of the tree, generally from $175-$750, and a $150 planting fee. The Park District will plant trees that are 2-2.5” in caliper or 6-9’ in height for clump forms.
Benches
There are several manufacturers that provide quality benches for a Living Tribute. At this time the Park District will accept benches from: DuMor Site Furnishings, Wabash Valley, Ultra Site Park Furnishings, or Patterson-Williams Site Furnishings. Benches must be 4 or 6 feet in length, of metal construction, must be able to be bolted in place, and may have an optional commemorative plaque placed in the bench back or in the concrete pad under the bench. The cost of a bench varies by style but typically is between $1,000 – $3,500 plus the cost of shipping. Installation cost will vary depending on concrete needs.
Plaques
The Park District uses a 4” by 8” acid etched zinc plaque with a dark brown leatherette background and a polished gold border. Etched plaques allow more flexibility on font size and style, embellishments, and the quantity of wording on the plaque. A proof of the plaque will be sent for review and approval prior to production. Once a plaque is delivered the Park District will place it in a concrete marker for installation by a tree or within the concrete pad for a bench. Plaques are $275 and may include embellishments, if desired at no additional fee.
Current Tributes
| Year | Tribute To | Type | Park/Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Marilyn Pedersen | Bench with Plaque | Clayson House |
| 2014 | Arnold Rusten | River Birch | Birchwood pool |
| 2014 | Peter & Reba Chaplinsky | Presidential Gold Ginkgo | Willowwood Park |
| 2013 | Del Mar Family Aaron, Konnor, Aaron Jr & Isabella | Swamp White Oak | Community Park |
| 2013 | Mildred Dyszel | Honeylocust | Doug Lindberg Park |
| 2013 | Chuck Carlino | Maple | Peregrine Park |
| 2011 | Brant Jepson | Sugar Maple | Hawthorne Park |
| 2011 | Mary Harrold | Red Maple cultivar | Dutch Schultz Rec Area |
| 2010 | Fran Green | Serviceberry Tree | Community Center |
| 2010 | Diana Napolitano | Maple | Margreth Riemer Reservoir |
| 2010 | Bob Knapstein | Swamp White Oak | Oak Park |
| 2009 | Bradley W. Howett | Japanese Lilac | Community Center |
| 2009 | Shannon Devereaux Hane | Bench with plaque | Community Park |
| 2009 | Edmund & Barbara Meyer | Norway Maple | Willowwood Park |
| 2008 | Kristen Larsen | Crab Apple | Community Center |
| 2008 | James J. Cabay | Bench with plaque | Cottonwood Park |
| 2008 | Nelda Rose Danz | River Birch | Mallard Park |
| 2008 | Chris "Shorty" Strozewski | Red Oak | Sparrow Park |
| 2008 | Geri Brinkman | Chicago Blues' Black Locust | Wally Degner Park |
| 2007 | Fred & Bunny | Wheelchair Accessible areas (concrete) | Fred Hall Amphitheater |
| 2007 | DON UPDYKE | Maple | Maple Park |
| 2007 | Tom Dowling | Yellowwood Tree | Osage Park |
| 2007 | Nick & Rose Gbur | Linden | Peregrine Park |
| 2006 | Jenny Neidlinger | Crimson King Maple | Birchwood Playground |
| 2006 | Frank Gravin | Indian Summer Maple | Cedar Park |
| 2006 | Charlie John Novak | Bench with plaque | Hummingbird Park |
| 2006 | Bill & Kay Janney | Tulip Tree | Ost Field |
| 2006 | Bernie "Grumpy" Dalton | Red Horsechestnut | Dutch Schultz Rec Area |
| 2006 | Ricki Reznick | Bald Cypress | Robin Park |
| 2006 | Victor Fasano | Indian Summer Maple | Willowwood Park |
| 2005 | Waldon O. Degner | Bench with plaque | Fred Hall Amphitheater |
| 2004 | John G. O'Connell | Bradford Pear | Birchwood South |
| 2004 | Richard K. Welty | Indian Summer Maple | Community Center |
| 2004 | Doug Lindberg | Bronze Plaque in Granite Boulder | Doug Lindberg Park |
| 2004 | Grace M. Hanson | Tulip Tree | Family Aquatic Center |
| 2004 | Helen S. Hill | Maple Tree | Family Aquatic Center |
| 2004 | Donald Winston Danz | River Birch | Mallard Park |
| 2004 | James B. Jackson | Oak Tree | Dutch Schultz Rec Area |
| 2003 | Gene & LaVirra Lehman | Rose Garden | Clayson House |
| 2003 | Alan Eck | Indian Summer Maple | Ost Field |
| 2002 | Muriel Giancaspro | Swamp Burr Oak | Maple Park |
| 2002 | Sister Rosita Maria | Plaque by Playground | Ost Field |
| 2001 | Dedictaion / commisioners | Plaque by Ballfield Sign | Tom T. Hamilton |
| 2001 | Carl Ehrhardt | 6" Norwegian Maple | Hummingbird Park |
| 2001 | Reseda Garden Club | Bench | Margreth Riemer Reservoir |
| 2001 | no plaque for this tree | Red Oak | Mulberry Park |
| 2001 | Lora Eve D' Agostino | Oak | Mulberry Park |
| 2001 | Dedication (commisioners) | Plaque in garden | Towne Square |
| 2000 | Carolyn Burkett | Plaque in garden area | Cutting Hall |
| 2000 | Bert Hill | Green Mountain Maple | Family Aquatic Center |
| 2000 | Harry S. Hanson | Elm Tree | Family Aquatic Center |
| 1998 | Arline Cronin | Crab Apple | Cedar Park |
| 1998 | Jeff Kallman | Maple Tree | Cottonwood Park |
| 1998 | Roger Levine | Autumn Purple Ash | Whippoorwill Park |
| 1998 | DR. Stark | Bronze Plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Boldt Medtronics | Bronze Plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Paddock Publications | Bronze Plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Brouning Terris | Bronze Plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Rotary club | Granite corner plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Jaycees | Granite corner plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Weber Stevens | Granite corner plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Northrup Grumman | Granite corner plaque | Town Square |
| 1998 | Legion Memorial | 3 Granite monuments at Flagpole | Town Square |
| 1997 | Donald M. Arntzen | Plaque in the east garden | Birchwood Rec. Center |
| 1997 | Frank & Anna Kopecky | Princeton Sentry Ginkgo | Clayson House |
| 1997 | Frank Smith | Linden | Locust Park |
| 1997 | Steven John Vick | Aesculus flava | Palatine Hills Park |
| 1996 | William & Essie Studdard | Sugar Maple | Hawthorne Park |
| 1996 | Florence & Joe Murray | Profusion Crab Apple | Peregrine Park |
| 1995 | Maggie Rogers | Crimson King Maple | Birchwood Pool |
| 1994 | Ralph & Helga Heimsoth | Crimson King Maple | Ost Field |
| 1993 | Michael C. Castro | Bradford Pear | Ashwood Park |
Please Note: Living Tributes can be purchased at any time of the year. Installation may be delayed due to weather, staff commitments or other restrictions such as tree availability or production time for benches.
Specific information for Living Tributes is available by contacting Palatine Park District staff at 847.496.6246.