3 hours Ago By KENOSHA NEWS STAFF
Near the corner of 60th Street and 111th Avenue, there stood a lone tree, which affectionately became known as Kenosha’s own “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.” A local neighbor spotted the tree and thought it could use a little attention. He placed a single red ornament on the tree, and from there, it took on a new life.
Other neighbors noticed the adornment and joined in the fun, and the process became somewhat of a tradition. That tree had heart — it brought neighbors together and gave the community a unique focal point to celebrate the season. Unfortunately, that tree’s lifespan was severely compromised and earlier this year it was removed as part of the Greeneway Project’s efforts to plan for a healthier and more sustainable tree canopy in the area.
But while the original tree is gone, its legacy lives on. To honor the spirit of Kenosha’s “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree,” the Greeneway Project property owners and developers have planted a 10.5-foot Colorado Spruce in its place.
This new tree is ready to carry forward the tradition of holiday joy and connection at the corner of 60th Street and 111th Avenue. Although the tree is located on private property, the public is invited to visit. The property developers encourage visitors to bring a holiday decoration to leave on the tree, adding their personal touch for the public to enjoy.
“It’s a simple way to create something special together and keep the spirit of the original tree alive,” said Kip Ritchie, CEO of Potawatomi Ventures, Project Greeneway’s developer. “We wanted to replace the tree with something equally special, and we’re thrilled to invite everyone in the community to decorate it as they did with the former tree and to bring the spot some holiday cheer.” Community leaders, who were fans of the original tree, support Potawatomi’s community tree replacement.
“I appreciate the property owners’ interest in preserving what’s quickly become a community treasure on Kenosha’s west side. We hope it becomes a place to visit, reflect, and share the spirit of the season with neighbors,” said Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman. “This new tree provides a shared community space where neighbors will connect and celebrate the Christmas season together,” Mayor David Bogdala said.
“This new tree is more than just a holiday decoration; it’s a symbol of our community’s commitment to coming together and appreciating the place we all call home. It provides a shared space where neighbors can connect and celebrate the season,” Kenosha Ald. Dominick Ruffalo said.
Greeneway is a comprehensive redevelopment project of the approximately 240-acre land site, formerly occupied by the Dairyland Greyhound Park, into a mixed-use residential and commercial center. The development is designed to employ sustainable development practices across multiple building types, including multi-family residential, industrial, office and commercial. The land was purchased by the Forest County Potawatomi Community in 2016.
Sagewind Development is the real estate developer and Greenfire Management Services is the construction manager; both companies are subsidiaries of Potawatomi Ventures. All trees will lose some needles. Shake tree firmly.
If large amounts fall off, the tree might not be that fresh. On firs the branches should be flexible. Remove bottom branches and cut at least one inch off base of trunk.
Get the tree in water as soon as possible before the trunk scabs over. Add nothing to the water. These soft needles are dark-green or blue-green in color and are approximately 1 - 1 1⁄2 inches in length.
The Douglas fir needles radiate in all directions from the branch. When crushed, these needles have a sweet fragrance. They are one of the top Christmas tree choices in the U.
S. This tree exhibits a relatively dense, dark-green, pyramidal crown with a slender spire-like tip. On lower branches needles generally occur as two-ranked (two rows along sides of the branch), 3/4 - 1 1/2 inches long, spreading and not crowded.
The needles tend to be shorter and curved upward. This tree has a unique appearance from other Christmas tree species. With their thick, symmetrically arranged branches Nordmann fir are perfect for displaying heavy ornaments.
The dark green needles are short and smooth, and are covered in a waxy cuticle that prevents water loss. Fraser fir is a uniform, pyramid-shaped tree. Strong branches are turned slightly upward, which gives the tree a compact appearance.
Needles are flattened and dark-green with a medial groove on the upper side and two broad silvery-white bands on the lower surface. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Local Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
.
