On the Kankakee River, along Route 66

Tree Removal in Wilmington, IL

An old river town where many trees are as established as the homes and the people in them.

We price jobs standing in your yard, anywhere in Joliet and Will County
A written quote that itemizes every tree
Brush, logs and chips handled the way you ask

Old River Town, Old Trees

Tree Removal in Wilmington usually means dealing with trees that have been around a long time. Wilmington was founded in 1836 and incorporated in 1854. In 1834 Thomas Cox bought land near Alden's Island and built a sawmill, a gristmill and other water-powered works, using the smaller channel of the Kankakee River as a mill race. The town grew up on the east bank of the river, and a large island in the river, now mostly a city park, gave it the nickname "The Island City." Streets laid out that long ago tend to have big trees on modest lots, close to houses and garages, and that is where most of our work here is.

Riverside trees

Trees on low ground near a river grow fast, and many of the common riverbank species in northern Illinois, such as silver maple, cottonwood and willow, are big, soft-wooded trees that tend to drop limbs and decay as they age. On riverfront lots, a removal often has to account for:

A slope toward the water, where wood can roll or slide
Soft or wet ground that can't take a heavy truck
Trees leaning out over the water, which need to be pulled back or taken down in pieces so nothing drops into the river
Public land at the waterline, where the trees are not the homeowner's to remove

Work in a floodway or on public riverbank may also need approvals, so it is worth checking before anything there is cut.

Established households

Wilmington had 5,664 residents in the 2020 Census, about the same as in 2010. Census QuickFacts reports that 21% of residents are 65 or older, the average household is 2.29 people, and the median owner-occupied home value is about $223,800. Many owners are older and have lived with their trees for decades. They are not looking to climb a ladder with a chainsaw, and they shouldn't. We handle the cutting, chipping and cleanup, and we can phase a big job over two visits if that works better for the budget.

Downtown and Route 66

Wilmington sits on Illinois Route 53 and Historic U.S. Route 66. The Gemini Giant statue moved to South Island Park in March 2024, and the historic Eagle Hotel stands at Route 53 and Water Street. Trees in the island park are city property, and street trees downtown may be too, so check with the city before anyone cuts one. For trees on your own lot near the downtown, expect tighter access and more sectional work.

Next to Midewin

Just north of town is Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, home to the largest bison herd in Illinois. Properties on the north side can be more open and windier than the shaded streets near the river.

Call (779) 324-4241 or use the form for a written estimate. Get a free estimate

Wilmington Notes

The Island City. Wilmington sits on the east bank of the Kankakee River. A large island in the river, mostly a city park, divides it into a main and a smaller channel and gives the town its nickname.
Mill town origins. Thomas Cox bought land near Alden's Island in 1834 and built water-powered mills. Wilmington was founded in 1836 and incorporated in 1854.
An older population. Census QuickFacts reports 21.0% of residents 65 or older, 2.29 persons per household, a 64.4% owner-occupied rate and a median owner-occupied value of $223,800 (2020-2024 ACS).
Route 66 and Midewin. The town is on Historic U.S. Route 66; the Gemini Giant moved to South Island Park in March 2024. Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie lies just north of Wilmington.

Our Services in Wilmington, IL

Wilmington Questions

Can you remove a tree on my riverfront lot?

Usually, if it is on your property. We plan the work so nothing drops into the river, and we account for slope and soft ground. Check first whether the bank itself is public land and whether floodway rules apply to your lot.

Can a big job be split into two visits?

Yes. If you have several trees, we can price them separately and schedule the most urgent ones first. The written estimate shows each item on its own line.

Who handles trees in the island park or along the downtown streets?

Trees in the island park are public, and street trees may be as well. If one looks dangerous, report it to the City of Wilmington. We work on trees on private property.

My silver maple by the river keeps dropping limbs. Should it come down?

Silver maples grow fast and large, and older ones often shed branches and develop decay where limbs meet the trunk. If it drops limbs near the house, the drive or where people sit, have it looked at. Sometimes a reduction prune buys years; sometimes removal is the safer answer.

Free Estimates in Wilmington, IL

Free written estimates for Wilmington homes, riverside and in town.

Call (779) 324-4241 Free Estimate