Two Illinois State Champion Trees Recognized at Dahlquist Park

The Rockford Park District is proud to announce that two trees located at Dahlquist Park have been officially recognized as Illinois State Champion trees, an honor that celebrates their exceptional size and significance.

These recognitions are part of the Natural Land Institute’s (NLI) Legacy Tree Program, launched in January 2024. The program highlights noteworthy trees across NLI’s 12-county service area based on their size, species, and natural, historical, or cultural importance. Each nominated tree is added to a growing registry that helps document and preserve the region’s natural heritage.

In November 2025, those nominations were evaluated in person by Justin Vozzo, Extension Specialist in Forestry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who traveled to Rockford with NLI representatives to measure and confirm the trees.

Following the official measurements, five trees were confirmed as Illinois State Champion trees—two of which are located at Dahlquist Park.

Illinois State Champion Trees at Dahlquist Park

Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)

Located at Dahlquist Park, 3303 Oak Grove Ave., this Kentucky Coffeetree stands 87 feet tall, features an average crown spread of 52 feet, and has a circumference of 134.1 inches, earning a total of 234.1 points.

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

Also located at Dahlquist Park, the Paper Birch measures 60 feet high, with an average crown spread of 66.5 feet and a circumference of 98.6 inches, totaling 175.2 points.

Visitors are encouraged to explore Dahlquist Park and experience these historical trees firsthand.