West Lafayette Tree Friends

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West Lafayette, IN
West Lafayette Tree Friends

View full policy at westlafayette.in.gov/socialmedia. Meetings are held at noon on the second Tuesday of each month.

A volunteer organization serving the West Lafayette community.

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Comments are moderated in accordance with the City of West Lafayette Community Moderation Policy.

03/24/2026

Spring is here, and Arbor Day is just around the corner!🌳

West Lafayette has been a Tree City USA since 1991, showing our love for growing and protecting our urban forest. This year, we’re celebrating with hands-on fun and giving back!

Join us for the Arbor Day Celebration:
📍 Location: Cason Family Park
📅 Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Mark your calendars and join us as we make our community greener and more vibrant for everyone!

03/11/2026

‼️ALERT‼️Road Closure Details:

The West Lafayette Parks & Recreation Department will have a temporary road, trail, and sidewalk closure to allow for the removal of the Kissing Tree at 333 Forest Hill Drive.

-Location: Between the intersections of Grant St. & Leslie Ave. and Grant St. & Forest Hill Dr.

-Dates: Monday, March 16 – Wednesday, March 18 (weather permitting)

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve safety and accessibility within the City.

View the closure map:https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/3962338/Parks_-_Road_Closure_MOT_-_Grant_Street_-_Browning_Tree_Service_-_Kissing_Tree.pdf

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The Kissing Tree has quietly been part of West Lafayette for generations. As the Kissing Tree prepares for its final chapter, we acknowledge the history tied to it.

Kissing Tree Details and History: https://www.westlafayette.in.gov/Home/Components/News/News/322/14
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03/08/2026

In the coming weeks, the Kissing Tree will begin its final chapter.

Tree removal is anticipated during Spring Break (March 16–21) as part of a project to improve safety and install an ADA-compliant sidewalk along this corridor. Before that work begins, this is the community’s opportunity to visit the Kissing Tree one last time - to take photos or simply pause beneath its branches.

To help make it easier to capture a final photo, the City will have a photographer available: Mark Your Calendars – You’re invited!
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Where: The Kissing Tree on Grant Street outside of West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
When: Monday, March 9
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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No sign-up is required - stop by if you’re in the area. This lunchtime window is intended to make it easy for students, working professionals, neighbors, and passersby to participate.

Photos may also be taken anytime. If you choose to share photos with us, they may be:
· Submitted to the City via email to [email protected]
· Shared by tagging the City on social media
· Shared publicly using

As the Kissing Tree prepares for its final chapter, we invite the community to visit and capture a moment of their own.

(Thank you to Denise, fitness instructor at the John R. Dennis Wellness Center, for sending in her photo.)

03/02/2026

In the coming weeks, the Kissing Tree will begin its final chapter.

Tree removal is anticipated during Spring Break (March 16–21) as part of a project to improve safety and install an ADA-compliant sidewalk along this corridor. Before that work begins, this is the community’s opportunity to visit the Kissing Tree one last time - to take photos or simply pause beneath its branches.

To help make it easier to capture a final photo, the City will have a photographer available: Mark Your Calendars – You’re invited!

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Where: The Kissing Tree on Grant Street outside of West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School
When: Monday, March 9
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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No sign-up is required - stop by if you’re in the area. This lunchtime window is intended to make it easy for students, working professionals, neighbors, and passersby to participate.

Photos may also be taken anytime. If you choose to share photos with us, they may be:

· Submitted to the City via email to [email protected]

· Shared by tagging the City on social media

· Shared publicly using

As the Kissing Tree prepares for its final chapter, we invite the community to visit and capture a moment of their own.

(Thank you to Denise, fitness instructor at the John R. Dennis Wellness Center, for sending in her photo.)

02/20/2026

For many in our community, the Kissing Tree represents more than a landmark; it’s a piece of West Lafayette’s story.

Now, as we work to improve safety and accessibility on Grant Street, it’s time for the tree to come down and its legacy to live on in new ways.

Planned improvements include:
✔️ Careful removal of the tree by a private contractor
✔️ Installation of a new 6-foot ADA-compliant sidewalk
✔️ Construction of a retaining wall to support the corridor
✔️ Placement of a commemorative plaque honoring the Kissing Tree and its place in our City’s history

We expect to remove the tree during West Lafayette Community School Corporation's spring break week (March 16–21, 2026), subject to weather conditions.

While space constraints prevent a replacement tree at this exact location, West Lafayette Parks & Recreation Department will plant 126 trees citywide in 2026, including one that will be named “The Kissing Tree” in honor of this local landmark.

If you missed our email last week, follow the link to learn more about the Kissing Tree and to sign up for future City updates:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/INWESTLAFAYETTE/bulletins/4098b88

02/14/2026

For decades, this oak tree has quietly stood along Grant Street near West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School - witnessing daily life in West Lafayette and countless moments shared beneath its branches.

Over time, it became known as “The Kissing Tree,” a nickname passed down through generations and woven into local lore. For many in our community, the tree has been more than just part of the landscape; it has been a familiar landmark tied to memory and tradition.

On Valentine’s Day, we share the story of the Kissing Tree and what it has meant to West Lafayette, while also beginning an important conversation about why it must soon be removed to improve safety and accessibility along this corridor.

Like many love stories, this one is cherished - and now, it’s time to thoughtfully turn the page.

Stay tuned for more information…

12/02/2025

“Every tree we plant and care for brings cleaner air, cooler shade, and better stormwater absorption to our community. And let’s face it, you can’t look at a tree without feeling just a little more at peace.” – Paul Brennan, Chair🌳

Those quiet moments under a tree’s canopy remind us to slow down and breathe.

Today is ! Support West Lafayette Tree Friends and keep those moments coming: https://www.wltreefriends.org/donate

11/29/2025

One day of giving can create a life-long impact on our city’s canopy. 🌱

Our volunteers show up season after season—planting young trees, pruning growing ones, and protecting the urban forest we all enjoy.

Help support their efforts this by giving at https://www.wltreefriends.org/donate

11/26/2025

Strong communities grow from strong trees—and strong trees grow from people who care. As this approaches, we ask you to consider supporting our planters, pruners, and protectors. 💚

✨Donate: https://www.wltreefriends.org/donate

11/07/2025

🌳 Thank you for joining us for the 2025 Lillich Lecture!

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful speakers—Amy Krzton-Presson of Wabash River Enhancement Corporation WREC , Amanda Estes of the Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality, and our very own Tree Friend, Cliff Sadof—for sharing their expertise at this year’s Lillich Lecture.

Lecture participants learned valuable information about the identification and removal of Indiana invasive species, as well as local resources available to support ongoing efforts in invasive species management. Their insights help us continue building a healthier, more sustainable community!

🌿 This annual event celebrates the lasting legacy of Helen Lillich, founder of West Lafayette Tree Friends and affectionately known as the “Tree Lady.” Helen was a passionate advocate for trees and sustainability, an educator, and a tireless champion for all things green in our city. Her efforts were instrumental in the passage of the Trees and Landscape Ordinance, which continues to shape our community today. Though Helen passed in 2010, her dedication to environmental stewardship continues to inspire us all.

Thank you for helping carry forward her vision for a greener, thriving West Lafayette!

Address

222 N. Chauncey Avenue
West Lafayette, IN
47906

Website

https://wltreefriends.org/

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