2019 Fall Neighborhood Tree Grant Now Available

Photo: As winners of the spring Neighborhood Tree Grant on May 11, 2019, the Lowertown Neighbors, with the help of the RNeighborWoods team planted 25 new trees in their boulevards. When asked in the grant application why they wanted these trees they answered “our streets use to be lined with beautiful Elm trees making a canopy over the street.  The influx of diseases have left our streets barren.  We would like to see the streets lined with trees providing shade again.”   

Trees make good neighbors.

Since its creation in 2004, RNeighborWoods has organized 7,000 volunteers to plant 7,752 trees on Rochester boulevards. These trees provide multiple ecological and other public benefits including reducing Rochester’s carbon footprint. Rochester’s urban forest includes 41,177 public trees on neighborhood boulevards and parks. In one year 33,100 lbs of pollutants were removed from the air and $719.284 in stormwater benefits were achieved thanks to these trees. Here’s an info-graphic with more fun figures.

The City of Rochester and RNeighbors is once again offering a grant for a winning neighborhood to receive 25 free boulevard trees.

Twenty-five trees will all be awarded to a neighborhood that wants to pitch in and help get the trees in the ground! For every volunteer over 14 that shows up to help plant trees, the neighborhood will receive 1 free tree, up to 25 trees.

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 7, at 5 pm.

Neighborhoods will need to work with their neighbors to determine appropriate tree locations with final approval from City Forestry. Over ten different tree varieties available have been selected by the City Forestry Department in an ongoing effort to diversify Rochester’s urban tree canopy. For spaces under power lines, the appropriate variety will be chosen that will not need to be cut back.

Click here for a document that can help you in organizing your neighborhood for the Neighborhood Tree Grant.

How it Works

• At least 20 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.
• Once the grant is received the core planning group from each neighborhood will work with neighbors to determine locations for each tree.
• The core planning group will meet with some of the RNeighborWoods team to go over steps needed for the planting.
• Planting date must take place on Saturday, October 5, 9 am (rain or shine).
• Neighbors will commit to watering the trees for a full year.
• 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 Park and Recreation Forestry department is responsible for all maintenance and removal after the trees are planted. Keep in mind some tree types can take several years to establish and begin to grow.

The purpose of the RNeighborWoods Tree grant is to encourage the planting of trees on neighborhood boulevards and the interaction of neighbors. 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 Friday, August 9, 2019. Fill out your application today!

Check out RNeighbors on Facebook and see fun photos from past tree planting activities.

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