Politics & Government

Officials: Take Down Those Tree Swings

Summertime fun can lead to danger and damage.

The old-timey summer tradition of creating a tree swing presents a danger to children, to trees and to surrounding property, according to Oak Park village officials. 

"A swing in parkway trees is a bad idea on so many levels," village forester Jim Semelka said in a news release. "Most of the parkways in Oak Park are so narrow that any kid on a swing suspended from a parkway tree could easily be struck by a passing vehicle, bounce off a parked car or strike a pedestrian on the sidewalk. And then there is the affect on the tree from the ropes, wires, bolts and other assorted contraptions used to hang the swings."

Officials are also reminding residents than attaching anything to a village-owned trees is technically illlegal, although enforcement has been rare. 

Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We try to educate residents rather than ticket them for these types of violations," said village spokesman Dave Powers. "I think it is likely that the individuals who do this just don’t think about the dangers." 

What dangers? 

Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Damage to trees, for starters. Powers noted a swing rig digging into a thick limb and "likely damaging it severely."  Then, there's the potential for kids and passersby to get hurt. 

As an alternative, Semelka suggested concocting a tree swing on residential property — not in village parkways.

"I know there are some out there who will criticize us for trying to throw a wet blanket on their summertime fun. But this truly is a public safety issue," Semelka said. "My professional interest is, of course, the health of the trees. As a parent, though, it really troubles me to see someone take such an unnecessary risk with their child's safety."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here