Local landscapers to beautify Streator’s Korean War Memorial

The Korean War Memorial in Streator will receive some landscaping improvements courtesy of a local landscaping business.

The City Council unanimously approved the improvements during Wednesday’s meeting with the condition that the business reach out to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post before work begins. Sedlock’s Three Trees Landscaping will donate the labor and supplies.

Nora Sedlock, a designer with her family business, said they are hoping to “kick-start” the beautification process and to honor veterans – specifically her two grandfathers who served during the Korean War.

The proposal offers to renovate the memorial by removing four to six overgrown yews and removing all the debris as well as the stump. The yews will be replaced with two Rainbow Pillar serviceberries and one Kindred Spirit oak tree. Remulching also will occur around the new shrubs with premium hardwood mulch and a natural cut bed edge.

The proposal continues by noting that Three Trees would trim or cut back the linden tree that hangs over the memorial.

Alderman David Reed thanked Three Trees for its involvement in the community, as this isn’t the first project the company has taken on.

“You’ve helped us at the library, you’ve helped out at the historical society,” he said. “So, this isn’t a one-off thing that you’re doing here. It’s something you’ve done for the community that no one knows about.”

Mayor Tara Bedei said it’s fantastic to have residents who not only want to be involved in the community but also want to help improve it.

“We like our community,” Sedlock said. “We our proud of our community, and we’d like to see positive things to show the rest of [the country] that there’s a lot of good things in Streator. So, that’s all we’re trying to do.”