2011 Spring RNeighborWoods Community Tree Planting
On Saturday, May 7, 450 neighbors, youth, and other community volunteers worked together to plant 1,000 trees in one morning, a record number of trees planted in one morning for the state of Minnesota and the RNeighborWoods program.
On what turned out to be a lovely spring day,450+ volun-trees showed up to help set a record of planting 1,000 boulevard trees in one morning. In order to diversify our urban forest we planted: Bicolor Oak, Burr Oak, Ginko, Kentucky Coffeetree, Euonymus Tree, Honeylocust, Pekin Lilac, Linden, Princeton Elm, Accolade Elm, Discovery Elm.
What did it take to accomplish this mission? 4 hours of work by 900 hands, 3,000 wooden stakes, 100 tons of wood chips and an endless number of smiles all went into getting the trees in the ground to grow for generations to come.
Huge thanks to our event sponsors who allowed us to give away free tree-shirts to all of the planters and provide a yummy Roscoe’s lunch. And an even bigger thanks to all of you amazing Rochester neighbors. These NW Rochester neighborhoods are now greener thanks to you, while setting a MN record of 1,000 city trees planted in one morning! Outstanding. See Our Sponsors
Currently there are 27,720 vacant boulevard tree spaces throughout Rochester neighborhoods, out of a total of 56,779 spaces. The city is currently at less than a half of capacity and each year 500-900 boulevard trees are removed to disease or damage.
Did you know that trees make a difference in many aspects of a neighborhood? The below information is from the Alliance for Community Trees and additional facts and figures can be found on their website.
- Lower crime.
The presence of trees in urban neighborhoods has been linked to reduced crime. - Cleaner air
Trees provide the oxygen we breathe. One acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people to breathe each day and eliminates as much carbon dioxide from the air as is produced from driving a car 26,000 miles. - Energy savings.
Trees lower the temperature through shade. The cooling effects of trees can save millions of energy dollars. - More public revenue.
Studies have shown that trees enhance community economic stability by attracting businesses and tourists. - Higher property values.
Property values of homes with trees in the landscape are 5 – 20% higher than equivalent properties without trees. - More efficient stormwater management.
One tree reduces 4000 gallons of storm water runoff annually. 400 trees will capture 140,000 gallons of rainwater annually. That is, 4 million trees would save $14 million in annual storm water runoff costs.
RNeighborWoods is doing our small part to add to Rochester’s urban forest, educate about the importance of trees, and nurture connectedness in neighborhoods. Check out photos from Saturday’s Event!
Special thanks to Sarah Field Photography for our wonderful event pictures!
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