Parkway and Streetscape Landscaping
Parkway and Streetscape Landscaping includes any landscape within the public right-of-way. Typical plantings include street trees and parkway plantings, typically turf grass. Parkway tree species shall be selected in accordance with their:
- Hardiness
- Size
- Growing conditions
- Soil volume
- Light requirements
- Urban tolerances
- Large canopy trees (30-50’ at mature height or higher) are preferred in order to provide shade, reduce heat island effect, reduce rainwater runoff, sequester carbon, and create safer and improved walking environments.
- Certain site-specific limitations, such as overhead lines or below-ground utilities, may dictate the use of columnar trees or understory tree species.
- All parkway trees shall be single-stem, with a clear trunk, free of branches, to a minimum height of 6’-0”.
- In challenging locations (high traffic areas, high exposure to salts, poor soils, poor drainage, limited soil volume, etc.), select from a narrower range of species that are more tolerant to urban conditions and tried and true. In better conditions (wider parkways / less trafficked areas, less exposure to salts, good soils, good drainage, more soil volume, etc.) select from a wider range of species to increase biodiversity.
- Where native soil, or urban fill, will not support plant growth, it is important to specify and install a soil that meets the cultural requirements of the proposed species.
- Soil volume is a key component in the success and longevity of parkway / streetscape tree plantings. The amount of soil installed will largely determine the maximum size and lifespan of the tree planted.
- Avoid planting trees in 5’ x 5’ tree pits cut into the sidewalk as these trees will struggle to reach maturity and have a severely reduced lifespan (often only 7-8 years or less). Instead, maximize soil volume by planting trees in longer trenches. The Bureau of Forestry recommends a minimum tree pit opening within pavement of 5’ x 10’.
- Provide a minimum of 500 cubic feet of soil volume per tree, with a minimum depth of 2.5 feet. When planted together, trees can share soil volumes and overlap up to 33% with each tree having a minimum soil volume of 300 cubic feet. Urban foresters generally recommend a soil volume of no less than 300 cubic feet for small trees, 600 cubic feet for medium trees, and 1,000 cubic feet for large trees.
- The Landscape Ordinance requires the use of CU Structural Soil within parkway areas under certain conditions. The use of soil cell pavement support systems is also encouraged in providing additional soil volume to street trees in otherwise limited urban environments.
Refer to the Chicago Landscape Ordinance for landscape requirements regarding parkway / streetscape tree layout and spacing, offsets, species selections, and planting details.
Refer to the Bureau of Forestry for a list of acceptable tree species for planting within the City of Chicago. Refer to the Chicago Department of Transportation Roadway Plant List for recommended / non-recommended plant species for use in roadside locations.
Refer to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Urban Forest Adaptive Planting List for recommended tree selections in consideration of climate change and warming temperatures in the Chicago region.
Parking Lot Landscaping
Parking Lot Landscaping may be required when the project scope includes a new parking area or redevelopment of an existing parking area. More often than not, parking lots present a challenging environment and set of conditions for plants to thrive; consider:
- Salt
- Poor soils
- Limited soil volume
- Heat island microclimates
- Little care provided
- Favor hardy, salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and low maintenance species.
- Provide landscape screening without impeding safety sight lines in and out of parking lot for pedestrians and drivers alike.
- Determine location(s) for and design for snow clearing / dumping.
- If no wheel stops are provided at parking spaces, then maintain 2’-0” width vegetation-free mulch strip for car overhang along back of curb.
- Provide water connection via a quick coupler or similar if the parking lot is in a remote location.
Refer to the Chicago Landscape Ordinance for city requirements regarding parking lot landscaping; including landscape area, setbacks, fencing, vegetative screening, and sightlines.
Entry and Foundation Landscaping
Entry and Foundation Landscaping may require plant species surrounding any building with a school property. Special attention shall be given to high use areas and traffic patterns, such as:
- The main building entrance
- Secondary entrances/exits
- Areas adjacent to amenities, such as playgrounds and parking lots
- Low maintenance shrubs with multi-season interest are recommended for foundation landscaping treatments. Select varieties or cultivars of an appropriate mature size which would require little to no pruning at maturity.
- At entries, or other focal areas, more species diversity and species with ornamental qualities, such as flowering, fragrance, colorful foliage, etc., are encouraged.
- Design the foundation planting to the building. Do not block or obstruct entries, windows, fire hydrants, hose bibs, or access / visibility to other façade-mounted utilities.
- Provide an 18” width vegetation free zone (maintenance edge) between the building façade and foundation landscaping to allow access for maintenance activities (e.g., window washing) where required. Foundation shrub plantings are encouraged outside of windows to provide a defensive barrier.
- Consider light exposure and discharge spouts/run-off when planting around the building. Foundation plantings shall be held below the top of the foundation wall to prevent water penetrating the building. Foundation plantings on the north side of the building shall account for limited sunlight exposure.
Screening Landscaping
- Screening Landscaping may be utilized to improve or filter views around utilitarian uses and equipment, including:
- Trash receptacles
- Loading docks
- Mechanical enclosures.
- Screening Landscaping may be designed for the benefit of the school, the community, or both. Careful consideration shall be given to adequately screening unsightly amenities while still maintaining a safe and secure environment.
- Low maintenance shrubs with multi-season interest are recommended for screening landscaping treatments. Select varieties or cultivars of an appropriate mature size which would require little to no pruning at maturity.
- It is important to maintain defensible space - sight lines in and out of all outdoor spaces. Avoid planting such that it could create concealed spaces which might lead to nefarious activity.
Playground Landscaping
Playground Landscaping shall include perimeter and interstitial plantings that provide a beautiful, diverse experience that enhances the play environment through color, shade, and interest. Playground planting design shall consider:
- Anticipate high traffic areas where trampling and/or other abuse is likely to occur. Do not plant delicate or temperamental plant species near playgrounds.
- Favor hardy, tough-to-kill plant species with a focus on spring and/or fall interest (when school is in session).
- Avoid plant species with poisonous fruits or foliage and species with thorns. The health, safety, and welfare of the students, faculty, and other playground users are above all.
- Be cautious of specifying multi-stem tree species or tree species with exfoliating bark that can potentially be damaged by playground users.
- Pollinator species are encouraged, however, be cautious of locating bee-attractive species immediately adjacent to high-traffic play areas (e.g., Lesser Calamint).
See Volume 3 Section 1.4.4 Playgrounds and 1.4.7 Space to Grow Program for additional guidelines.
Rainwater Management Landscaping
- Rainwater Management Landscaping may include plantings for a variety of Infiltration Best Management Practices (BMPs), including:
- Bioinfiltration systems/rain gardens
- Drainage swales
- Vegetated roofs
- Ensure all Infiltration BMPs are properly engineered. Water shall infiltrate within 24 hours. Provide a means of overflow drainage.
- Locate bioinfiltration systems (rain gardens, bioswales, etc.) a minimum of 20 feet offset from the building to minimize risk of water seeping into the foundation.
- Select adaptable plant species in accordance light exposure, soil conditions, and with the anticipated soil moisture and water levels of the bioinfiltration system. Consider periods of inundation and drought alike. Group plants by compatible water needs and tolerances; the wet zone (the low point), the mesic zone (the middle zone), and the transition zone (the uppermost zone between the bioinfiltration area and the surrounding conditions).
- Provide diversity in species selection and use native plants to enhance wildlife habitat but avoid complicated matrixes of individual plant species which would be difficult to maintain. Using block style plantings, or small groupings of individual species, eases maintenance and can help the planting look less weedy.
- Provide water connection via a quick coupler or similar if the bioinfiltration area is in a remote location.
- Select vegetated roof plant material based on depth of growth media, exposure, and water, using native or adapted plant species. Overhead spray irrigation is encouraged on vegetated roofs (drip line is often ineffective). Regardless of irrigation, access to a water connection, such as a hose bibb, is required on all vegetated roofs.
- Sustainable Stormwater Landscaping shall be designed as separate spaces from play areas, gathering spaces, or outdoor classrooms to avoid dual-uses.
- CPS stakeholders (e.g., the school, parent groups, CPS capital staff, etc.) shall review and provide input on all proposed bioinfiltration systems/rain gardens.
See Volume 3 Section 1.5.1 Rainwater Management & Site Drainage, 1.4.4 Playgrounds/Nature Play, and 1.4.7 Space to Grow Program for additional guidelines.
Lawn / Natural Lawn Landscaping
Lawn Landscaping shall be considered for flexible open spaces not dedicated to formalized recreation and may be utilized in numerous locations around a CPS property. In certain circumstances, natural lawn landscaping may be considered to minimize mowing / maintenance needs. Planning for lawns and natural lawns shall consider:
- Despite higher expense, sod is generally preferred over seed for its comparative ease of installation / upfront maintenance and its immediate impact both functionally (less time required to establish, immediate erosion control and weed suppression) and aesthetically (‘instant lawn’).
- Seeding lawn may be more cost effective, particularly with larger sites, but will require more upfront weeding, watering, other maintenance, and time for establishment. Specifications shall clearly delineate final acceptance requirements, maintenance responsibilities, and maintenance duration.
- Mixtures and blends of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine rescues are suggested for lawn use in the Chicago area. The decision of which mixture or blend to specify shall be based on site conditions, use factors, and the anticipated maintenance program.
- Natural lawn, such as no mow fescues, sedge meadows, or similar, may be considered in low to no pedestrian traffic locations. Natural lawns generally require less maintenance, fertilizer use, and mowing than typical turf grass lawns. The appearance of natural lawns is often similar to that of a golf course rough.
See Volume 3 Section 1.4.5 Natural Amenities for additional information.
Specialty Garden Landscaping
- Specialty Gardens shall be considered when space and programming allow. Gardens provide:
- Education opportunities
- Create wildlife habitat
- Provide diverse planting palettes that add beauty and interest
- Specialty Gardens may include:
- Butterfly / Pollinator Gardens
- Sensory Gardens
- Edible Gardens
- Butterfly and Pollinator and Sensory Gardens shall be located in landscape areas with sunny exposures.
- Provide diversity in species selection and use native plants to enhance wildlife habitat but avoid complicated matrixes of individual plant species which would be difficult to maintain.
- Using block style plantings, or small groupings of individual species, eases maintenance and can help the planting look less weedy.
- Do not plant Edible Gardens into existing site soils. Always use a clean, imported growth media engineered for edible food growth. Raised, accessible beds are required and shall be a minimum of 1 foot tall.
- Educational signs is encouraged at specialty gardens.
(See Butterfly and Pollinator Plant Schedule)
(See Sensory Garden Plant Schedule)
See Volume 3 Section 1.4.5 Natural Amenities for additional information.
Shade Tolerant Landscaping
Careful consideration shall be given to the amount of sunlight and shade each planting area receives throughout the day. In shady conditions, plants will not be as dense or develop as many flowers as the same species planted in sun, therefore, in full to partial shaded areas, it is important to select species that are adapted to those conditions. Shade tolerant plantings may be required in a variety of applications throughout a school property, such as:
- Adjacent to buildings or structures; and,
- Below mature canopy trees.
(See Shade Tolerant Plant Schedule)
Plant Species Not Recommended for Planting
Certain plant species are not suitable for CPS properties for a variety of reasons. Planting design shall avoid the use of:
- Invasive species
- Species with brittle wood
- Species prone to ruinous or deadly pests, pathogens
Refer to the Chicago Landscape Ordinance and the Chicago Department of Transportation Roadway Plant List for additional species which are not recommended for planting.