A NEW FOUR YEAR PLAN WILL ADD MORE THAN 200 NEW TREES TO THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS.

THE ILLINOIS GREEN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION IS DONATING THE TREES. ONE IS BEING PLANTED NEAR THE ABE LINCOLN STATUE NEAR THE MAIN GATE…GROWN FROM AN ACORN OF A TREE IN WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS THAT WAS PLANTED LONG AGO BY A FRIEND OF LINCOLN. GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER SAYS THIS INITIATIVE WILL ENHANCE THE FAIRGROUNDS FOR YEARS TO COME.

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ROSENTHAL SAYS STAFF FOUND THE LINK WHILE SURVEYING TORNADO DAMAGE IN WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS BACK IN 2013.

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THE FAIRGROUNDS HAVE RECENTLY LOST QUITE A FEW TREES TO THE EMERALD ASH BORER.