Unexpected Benefit of Chicago Parkway Trees: Protect Your Property from Flying Cars

While many understand the basic benefits of trees, from improving the air we breath, to shade from the hot summer days, there's another benefit for Chicago residents to consider: it could save a car from crashing into your house.

Some parkways are wide and houses set back further than the average 15+ feet, but even so, serious accidents can jetison a parked car into your unprotected parkway and onto your front lawn. 

Every block and property is a bit different in Chicago, and many have fences guarding entrances to their residences, but one thing is for sure: a large, thick tree trunk could stop even large SUVs from careening any further on your property.

Don't be fooled by your unassuming low-traffic street, your one way (some lead to increased speeds) or the lower-than-average crime on your block. Because sh*t happens.

As a victim of a freak (but not so freak because it's Chicago) accident, my parked car was involved in a one way street pinball exercise of an uninsured driver, hitting 6 cars, 3 one one side of the street, 3 on the other. The large Ford Bronco parked behind me was flipped over on it's hood on the sidewalk, but the trajectory forced it to make impact with a mature Linden tree to avoided impact with the residence.

The culprit: A reckless, beat up Mazda Rx7. Tiny and low. Enough to flip that Bronco like a Mexican coke bottle top sending it flying toward it's next barrier. Thank goodness it was a tree and not a person.

Find out about ordering a tree in your parkway, or just dial 311 and request one.