Recycle Your Christmas Tree in Chicago

For the first year ever, we had enough space for a full-size Christmas tree. In the past, space allowed only for the (fabulous) 3 ft. tall pinecone tree made by my grandfather. While this is still my favorite (and doesn't require cutting down, purchase or recycling), a live tree provided a new, festive experience -- and possibly a new tradition. Searching for where to recycle it in Chicago, we found 20 participating parks. Scoping out our local Warren Park yesterday, a few piles of trees were ready for mulching; you can simply drop yours off and add to the pile:

Click through to the City of Chicago for information and call the Department of Environment at (312) 744-7606 with questions. Also, bagged mulch is available at the locations on a limited basis.

Participating Sites:

* Bessemer Park; 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.

* Clark Park; 3400 N. Rockwell

* Forestry Site; 900 E. 103rd St.

* Garfield Park;100 N. Central Park Ave.

* Grant Park; 900 S. Columbus

* Humboldt Park Boathouse; 1369 N. Sacramento

* Jackson Park; 6300 S. Cornell

* Kennedy Park; 11320 S. Western

* Kelvyn Park; 4438 W. Wrightwood

* Lake Meadows Park; 3117 S. Rhodes

* Lincoln Park; Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave.(Parking lot east of Cannon Dr.)