Two local Evanston Rotary clubs will plant 100 new trees in the city on Saturday morning as part of the Trees for Evanston Parks project.

According to a city news release, the Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse and the Rotary Club of Evanston will partner with Evanston and Northwestern to plant the trees, which come as additions to the 20 that the clubs planted last fall in Penny, Eiden, Grey, Southwest and Dobson/Brummel parks. Rotary members and volunteers will plant trees in Elliot Park by Lake Michigan, James Park in southwest Evanston and Twiggs and Harbert parks near McCormick Boulevard.

Over the past few years, the city has lost more than 3,500 trees due to heat stress and disease, so Saturday’s planting project is part of an effort to promote environmental sustainability. The Rotary clubs have been collecting donations on a per-tree basis — individuals could buy trees as gifts for others or to honor someone and then plant the tree themselves.

In preparation, Rotary members have been working with the city’s arborist to identify the types of trees they should plant, where to plant them and how to plant them. Volunteers will plant Eastern Redbud, River Birch, Frontier Elm, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Burr Oak and Shingle Oak trees. The city will provide support and care for the young trees, the release said.

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