2013 Fall Tree Grant Application Now Available

2013 Fall Tree Grant Application Now Available

Photo: On a very drippy Saturday afternoon, October 13, 2012, the RNeighborWoods team helped the Viking Village neighborhood plant 25 trees for their Neighborhood Tree Grant.

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Trees make good neighbors.

Since its creation in 2004, RNeighborWoods has organized 4,651 volunteers to plant 5,420 trees on Rochester boulevards. These trees provide multiple ecological and other public benefits including reducing Rochester’s carbon footprint. Once again the City of Rochester, RPU and RNeighbors is offering two grants for winning neighborhoods to receive free boulevard trees.

Announcing the RNeighborWoods Tree Grant!

We have 50 trees that will all be awarded to two neighborhoods that want to pitch in and help get the trees in the ground! You can read about the success of last falls’s neighborhood grant recipients.

Now tell us your story and make a case for why your neighborhood is deserving of this leafy grant. Eligible neighborhoods must be either a registered Neighborhood Association in Rochester or willing to hear about the benefits of organizing into an Association.

Applications can be filled out online and will be accepted through Wednesday, August 21, at 5 pm.

Neighborhoods will need to work with neighbors determine appropriate tree locations.

Here’s a handy tip sheet for helping organize for the Neighborhood Tree Grant.

Tree varieties available have been selected by Jacob Ryg, City Forester, and include Ginkgo, Bur Oak, Kentucky Coffeetree, and Amur Maackia. For spaces under power lines, the appropriate variety will be chosen that will not need to be cut back.

Each application must ensure:

  • At least 30 neighbors and one Citizen Forester will be available to help with the planting. RNeighborWoods will oversee the planting.
  • There must be a core planning group of four neighbors who commit to taking an active role in the planting planning.
  • The core planning group from each neighborhood must assist in planting not only in their neighborhood but also the second winning neighborhood.
  • Planting date must take place on Saturday, September 21, (rain or shine). First neighborhood planting at 1 pm.
  • Neighbors will commit to watering the trees for three full years.
  • Boulevard tree recipients must understand that there are times when trees do not survive. There will not be replacement trees for trees that die.

The purpose of the RNeighborWoods Tree grant is to encourage the planting of trees on neighborhood boulevards. RNeighborWoods recognizes the importance and value of trees in Rochester neighborhoods. Trees provide numerous environmental benefits such as lower crime, cleaner air, energy savings, more public revenue, higher property values, and more efficient stormwater management.

The RNeighborWoods committee will evaluate applications and make decisions at a meeting. Winners will be communicated with by August 29, 2013. Fill out your application today!

Check out RNeighbors on Facebook and see photos of some of our tree planting activities.

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