Galesburg Plants 1,000th Project 350 Tree

Volunteers planted a 9-foot Norway spruce on Public Square, marking the city's 1,000th tree under its five-year tree-planting effort.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Botany

Galesburg Plants 1,000th Project 350 Tree

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About 30 volunteers planted a 9-foot Norway spruce in the southeast corner of Galesburg's Public Square on Thursday, Nov. 5, marking the 1,000th tree planted through Project 350. The city plans a Santa-led lighting of the living Christmas tree on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Why it matters

The milestone reflects steady progress on a project that began in 2022 with a goal of planting 350 trees in five years, and it has already surpassed that target. The project grew out of mayoral funding for trees during emerald ash borer removals.

The city's tracking shows 1,000 trees planted through Project 350, against an original goal of 350 over five years, with 285 of those planted in 2026 alone. The planned 2,000-tree target is discussed but has not been confirmed as official policy.

The players

Peter Schwartzman

Mayor of Galesburg, who put $50,000 in the city budget for trees and whose funding for trees during emerald ash borer removals helped launch the project.

Knox College

Private liberal arts college in Galesburg whose $5,000 gift paid for the first 20 Project 350 trees planted in 2022.

Stoneleaf Nursery

Nursery in Goodfield that supplied the Norway spruce planted on Public Square.

The details

The 9-foot Norway spruce came from Stoneleaf Nursery in Goodfield and was chosen because it works as a living Christmas tree. Volunteers planted it in the rain, and the tree could eventually grow 40 to 50 feet tall and about 25 feet wide.

Project 350 began in 2022, with the first 20 trees planted on April 21, 2022, funded by a $5,000 gift from Knox College.
Volunteers planted the 1,000th tree on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.
The Santa-led lighting of the living Christmas tree is planned for Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. during Santa Rescue, before the 5 p.m. Holly Days Parade.
Tree planting in North Seminary Street medians is planned for next spring.

Roadmap

The project extends the city's response to emerald ash borer removals, which cleared trees that the city now replaces with new plantings. Its trajectory suggests a shift from simple replacement toward a larger canopy goal, though the 2,000-tree target has not been formalized.

Galesburg residents can attend the Santa-led lighting of the living Christmas tree on Dec. 6 during Santa Rescue. The growing canopy will eventually provide shade on Public Square as the spruce matures toward 40 to 50 feet.

The takeaway

A project that started with 20 donated trees has reached 1,000 in under four years, showing how modest annual budgets can build a city's canopy over time. Residents interested in urban forestry can follow the planned spring plantings along North Seminary Street.

What happens next

Volunteers are planned to plant trees in North Seminary Street medians next spring, and the living Christmas tree lighting is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 6.