Where we're talking about
The Cathedral Area Preservation Association puts the neighborhood between Jefferson Street to the south and Black Road to the north, and calls it "a green, tree-lined community." CAPA lists the Upper Bluff National Register Historic District and the Whitney Terrace and Raynor's Addition local historic districts among Joliet's historic neighborhoods (CAPA). Mature trees and old houses on tight lots: that's the setting for every tree job here.
The City has counted these trees
Joliet's earlier tree inventory was done in the Cathedral Area. The City used a $20,000 grant to survey a West Side area running between Jefferson Street and Black Road and between Larkin Avenue and Center Street. That survey counted 6,000 trees, and the data fed the City's Urban Forestry Management Plan (Herald-News).
In 2024 the City got a $216,519 grant through the Morton Arboretum to take that inventory citywide. Joliet was one of 22 Illinois communities awarded federal urban forestry funds through the Arboretum that year (same source).
Old ash came out first
Back in 2012, the city arborist said treatment wasn't the money-smart move for every ash. He told Patch it made more sense to remove ash 8 inches across or smaller, or much older ones, "such as those you'll find in the Cathedral Area and on the East Side" (Patch). If your block lost its parkway ash, that's why. Still have an ash in the back yard? Read our EAB timeline for Joliet before you spend money on it.
Big trees, big limbs: the 2020 storm
When the Aug. 10, 2020 derecho came through, NWS storm data recorded broken limbs in several intersections along Jefferson Street, and at least one car damaged by a large tree in the Cathedral Area, where power lines were also blown down (NWS Storm Data). Big, old canopies over narrow streets and overhead wires are the reason. If a big limb is hanging over the house or the service wire, see storm damage in Joliet before it comes down on its own.
Historic rules: what they cover
Joliet's landmark page says a local landmark can be a house, building, structure, fence, gate, wall, landscaping or other object. For landmarks, no exterior improvements, alterations, additions or other construction may be done on the exterior of the building or structure without a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Historic Preservation Commission, and the COA comes before the building permit (City of Joliet).
The page doesn't say tree work needs a COA, and we won't say it does. Where it bites: a tree job that turns into a fence, wall, porch or roof repair on a landmarked property. Ask the City at 815-724-4000 before that part starts (same page).
Parkway trees are still the City's
Historic or not, the tree between the sidewalk and the curb belongs to the City. Only a certified arborist, or workers supervised by one, may prune or remove a parkway tree, and a dead or dying one is the City's to remove. Call 815-724-3650 (Joliet Forestry). Details are in our parkway tree rules guide.
Pruning a big old tree here
- Oaks: the City says prune before April 1 or after Nov. 1 to avoid oak wilt (Joliet Forestry). Our oak pruning dates guide compares that with other sources.
- No stubs, no flush cuts: the City's tip is to cut just outside the branch collar, about 1/4 inch from the branch base (same page).
- Lines: limbs near utility lines go through ComEd at 800-334-7661 (same page).
- Access: old lots mean tight side yards, so ask the crew how the wood comes out before they start.
For everything else on your own lot, see tree trimming in Joliet.
Sources
Checked Nov. 4, 2026. If a City rule has changed since, the City’s page wins.
- Cathedral Area Preservation Association: What is the Cathedral Area
- Shaw Local (Herald-News), June 10, 2024: Joliet gets grant from Morton Arboretum to widen city tree inventory
- Joliet Patch, July 26, 2012: EAB likely infesting 80% of Joliet’s ash trees
- NWS Storm Data, August 2020 (PDF)
- City of Joliet: Local Historic Districts / landmarks
- City of Joliet Forestry Division