Fox Chase Boulevard Median Foundation

SUMMER/FALL 2024 UPDATE PLEASE DONATE NOW!

Hard to believe that summer is almost over. Thanks to your continued support, the median along Fox Chase Boulevard is looking great! This year the Median Foundation is again asking for a $25 tax-deductible donation (more is always appreciated) from residents to support our efforts. We accept online contributions or use the linked form to mail us a check. Click here to see our donation letter and look for our envelope in the mail!

In addition to routine landscape maintenance, tree/shrub trimming, and weed control, all of the landscape beds were recently edged and refreshed with a layer of wood chips. Earlier this spring, struggling perennial plants on the north side of the “flower hill” were replaced with new varieties. Several enhancements were also made to the island between Aintree Road and Keim Trail. Flowering perennials were planted along with a flowering crabapple tree, which replaced a pear tree that was knocked over during a spring storm. Larger viburnum shrubs were planted near the edges of the landscape bed to screen the electric transformers. Hardy native plants and pollinator-friendly varieties of flowering perennials/shrubs are used whenever possible.

In the island between Chasse Circle and Southgate Course, you may have noticed that a clump of aging and diseased crabapple trees were removed by the City last fall. A grouping of three multi-stem replacement trees (two Redbud and a Japanese Lilac) were planted this spring. The area was recently supplemented with topsoil and covered with grass seed and straw. This is part of our long-term effort to reduce ongoing maintenance costs while retaining the tree grove concept within the median.

At the Dunham Road entrance, the Park District removed several trees on both sides of the entrance. The Park District owns and maintains this property inside the stone pillars at the entrance. Later this fall, the stumps (currently painted white) will be ground down and replacement trees will be planted by the Park District.

We will again be decorating the Dunham Road entrance with seasonal displays. The bright red begonias at the Dunham road entrance will be replaced with a mix of mums and kale after the first frost. Festive fall decorations will be displayed on the stone pillars along with colorful wreaths to celebrate autumn. This winter we plan to display decorative holiday wreaths from late November through New Year. Let us know what you think of these improvements and seasonal displays!

The Median Foundation would like to thank Aintree Community Association, The Townes of Fox Chase and the 197 residences that contributed to our fundraising efforts last year. We hope to increase our donations in 2024, so please contribute now! All tax-deductible donations are used to maintain and improve the median areas in Fox Chase Boulevard.

Special thanks to the City of St. Charles and the Park District for their ongoing partnership in maintaining the boulevard median and enforcing the brush and leaf pick-up ordinances (see article below). Take a look at this website and read our donation letter if you are new to the area or curious about the history of the Median Foundation. Check out these pictures to see what it looked like before the Foundation was created and used your generous donations to transform the median from an eyesore into a winding, lush gateway to our community.

CITY Brush Pickup dates

The final brush pickup for eligible Eastside residents is on Nov 18th. We encourage homeowners to adhere to local ordinances and place brush on the parkway, in the front of your house or along the frontage where refuse/recycling is collected. We ask residents to not place brush piles, leaves or yard waste along the Fox Chase Boulevard parkway. See the article below for more information. The Median Foundation reports inappropriate brush/yard waste placement incidents to the City of St. Charles using the St. Charles Connect website.

City Leaf Collection

Leaf collection started on the east side of the river on Oct 30th for eligible residents. The City’s contractor, Kramer Tree Specialists, aims to complete the collection by Dec 5th. A progress map will be updated daily, showing which neighborhoods have been serviced and what remains for the month. Additionally, Lakeshore Recycling Systems will offer free bagged leaf collection from Dec 2-27 (with a one-day delay for the Christmas holiday) on regular refuse collection days.

MEDIAN FOUNDATION IN THE NEWS

In December 2021 the Fox Chase Boulevard Median Foundation was featured in a Daily Herald newspaper article. Earlier articles can also be found in the Daily Herald and the St. Charles Living magazine. Additional information about the Median Foundation can also be found by clicking here to see our press release in 2018 describing how a grassroots effort successfully transformed and preserved a community focal point.

City Takes Action to Eliminate Brush Piles

The City of St. Charles has taken steps to address the unsightly piles of brush and yard waste that accumulate along Fox Chase Boulevard and elsewhere in the City. Here is a quick summary of the actions the City has taken in response to concerns expressed by the Median Foundation and other residents in the community:

• The City revised the Brush Pick-up ordinance (8.24.030), which is posted on the City's website and regularly communicated in the Den Newsletter. Brush must be placed on the address side of the parkway where the garbage is gathered. These guidelines apply to all residents in the City of St. Charles that are eligible to participate in the Brush Pick-up program. Click here for a copy of the revised 8.24.030 ordinance - revised pickup language is in the first paragraph [Section 1.1.1] of the ordinance.

• The City continues to reinforce the guidelines by sending letters and/or contacting residents living near locations where brush/leaves are inappropriately placed along the Boulevard parkway.

Median Foundation Board Members applaud the steps taken by City administrators and fully support their commitment to maintain the beauty of Fox Chase Boulevard and other parkway areas in the City. We encourage neighbors to contact the Public Works Department at (630) 377-4405 (email: pw@stcharlesil.gov) or contact a Median Foundation Board Member to report residents that do not follow the Brush Pick-up guidelines.