Above / Beautiful tulips along the Riverwalk near Aurora Avenue and in other planters throughout downtown may be finished for the season, but folks have a chance to take 10 bulbs to plant on their own for next spring. For 2022, Naperville Park District is collaborating with the Downtown Naperville Alliance and the City of Naperville to provide bulbs for free.
For 2022, Naperville Park District is changing the way it distributes the tulip bulbs that are removed each spring. Instead of selling the bulbs for $3 per dozen, the District will join with the City of Naperville and the Downtown Naperville Alliance to make the leftover bulbs from the Riverwalk and other Park District locations available free of charge, along with bulbs from the City and other downtown locations.
Tulip bulbs, at no charge, will be available for free pickup beginning at 8AM on Fri., May 20, 2022, at 55 S. Main Street between Van Buren Ave. and Benton Ave. near the Main Street Promenade. The giveaway will continue until 10AM while supplies last.
Danielle Tufano, Executive Director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, added, “Want to add a ‘bit of Downtown Naperville’ to your own yard? The tulip bulbs in Downtown Naperville and surrounding communities are sadly done blooming for the season, but they are once again being offered to you with the help of Naperville Public Works and Naperville Park District.”
Based on first come, first served, Tufano added that while tulip pick up is free, the Naperville Jaycees will be on site to assist in exchange for a voluntary cash or check donation to their organization.
Folks who plan to pick up tulip bulbs are asked to bring their own bags, as bulbs will not be pre-bagged. Tulip bulbs will be in a random assortment in bins. Each person is allowed a maximum of 10 bulbs, organizers said.
“The Park District became interested in changing the way we distribute tulip bulbs for several reasons,” explained Andrea Coates, director of recreation and facilities. “Since 2013, we have cut the number of bulbs that we plant by more than half, while increasing the number of perennials, which require less maintenance and provide better environmental stewardship.”
Coates continued, “With fewer bulbs to sell, the traditional tulip bulb sale is no longer able to meet the demand from the community nor to recoup the cost of staff time to manage it. We are pleased to be able to partner with others to give away the bulbs this year so that residents can replant them to beautify their yards.”
