DeKorte Park will be closed on Saturday, December, 18,to facilitate the removal of several trees throughout the grounds that have been infected by the Emerald Ash Borer. The park will reopen on Sunday, Dec. 19.

The Emerald Ash Borer has been infesting hundreds of millions of ash trees nationwide since 2002. The adult borer drills tiny D-shaped holes in the trunk, feeds off the leaves, and lays eggs underneath the bark flaps so that its larvae can feed directly from the tree’s water and nutrient sources. Almost 99% of all infected trees die within 3 to 4 years.

Unfortunately, the Emerald Ash Borer has found its way to DeKorte Park and drilled through several trees, rendering them unsafe. We will be removing the dead trees to prevent any danger to park-goers, and to allow for the opportunity to replant fresh, healthy trees in the near future.