NORTH LAWNDALE — A new exhibit at a North Lawndale pop-up museum invites West Side families to explore the role of trees in the area and across the city as Earth Day approaches.
“ReCovered: Chicago’s Urban Tree Canopy” is on display at the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, located at 3601 W. Douglas Blvd., through April 26.
This marks the first exhibit of the year for the Pop-Up Spot, a seasonal mini-museum that showcases exhibits inside metal shipping containers.
ReCovered examines how the distribution of trees throughout the city impacts the environment and correlates with other societal disparities.
According to the exhibit, trees play a critical role in neighborhoods by improving air quality, reducing temperatures, preventing flooding, and ultimately enhancing resident well-being.
Data from the University of Chicago sheds light on the issue of “tree equity” across the city, revealing that areas on the South and Near West sides experience a significantly thinned tree canopy.
For instance, North Lawndale has fewer than 2,000 trees and approximately 10 percent tree canopy coverage.
In contrast, neighborhoods like Forest Glen and Beverly boast over 13,000 trees and about 50 percent tree canopy coverage, based on UChicago data.
Such disparities in tree canopy coverage correspond with higher surface temperatures found in the West, Southwest, and Northwest sides of Chicago.
The exhibit utilizes a transparent glass map of the city’s tree canopy which floats on a sliding hinge.
This feature allows viewers to juxtapose maps displaying disparities related to temperature, air quality, redlining, median household income, and crime, enabling a visual connection between these issues.
Visitors are encouraged to participate by drawing their favorite memories of a tree for the “What a Tree Means to Me” wall, showcasing a variety of memories and creations.
This display builds upon a previous 2023 exhibit hosted by the Architecture Center in collaboration with Span Studio.
In addition to the exhibit, the Pop-Up Spot will organize a tree walk at 9 a.m. on April 19 at the Douglass Park track.
This walk will be led by local “TreeKeepers,” who are certified tree ambassadors through Openlands, a nature conservation organization.
Another tree walk is set for 4 p.m. on April 23, starting from the Pop-Up Spot and ending at the Betty Swan Tree Arboretum, located at 3836 W. Arthington St.
Experts from the Morton Arboretum in Lisle will discuss various trees related to ReCovered during this event.
The Pop-Up Spot also hosts weekly walks every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Douglass Park along Albany Avenue.
Special Earth Day and Arbor Day events are scheduled for April 18 and April 25, featuring nature and environmental-themed activities alongside grilling and arts and crafts as part of the Pop-Up Spot’s regular “Fridays on the Plaza” series.
Founded in 2016 by University of Illinois Chicago graduate students Chelsea Ridley and Jonathan Kelley, the Pop-Up Spot aims to create a community-focused and civic-minded space in the West Side of Chicago.
The museum initially opened in a building, later relocating to a nearby community garden before settling in its current location in 2021.
ReCovered is a collaborative effort involving the Chicago Architecture Center, Trust for Public Land, and TREEmendous Lawndale.
For additional information about “ReCovered: Chicago’s Urban Tree Canopy,” please visit lawndalepopupspot.org.
image source from：https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/04/11/north-lawndale-pop-up-museums-new-exhibit-examines-chicagos-tree-disparity/
