NeighborWoods in Rochester Fall 2006 Tree Planting
The NeighborWoods in Rochester partnership together with community members planted 238 boulevard trees on three separate boulevards this fall. The key accomplishment of this environmental awareness project was the partnerships that were created, all working to improve the urban forest in Rochester. It was because of these groups uniting that over 150 diverse community volunteers showed up to improve neighborhoods with boulevard trees.Funded through the City of Rochester and Rochester Public Utilities, the October 21 planting was led by Citizen Foresters, assuring trees were planted correctly, and included Rochester community members of all ages and walks of life. Planters were treated to bagels, coffee, and water (all donated from local businesses) and received a free utility belt stuffed with donations from Rochester businesses, tree care information, and kids’ activities from the Alliance for Community Trees.
NeighborWoods Founding partners include RNeighbors, Rochester’s Neighborhood Resource Center; Maier Forest & Tree; Rochester City Forester; Rochester Public Utilities (RPU); and the Committee on Urban Design & Environment (CUDE). Partnering organizations who played key roles in this planting included the Olmsted County Youth Commission, Operation Hometown Gratitude, and Rochester Neighborhood Associations.
Three boulevards were planted.
- Boulevard #1
20th Street SE - Boulevard #2
50th Avenue and 55th Street NW - Boulevard #3
Elton Hills Drive West
Two of the three boulevards were long strips of grass with absolutely no trees. The third boulevard had trees that were removed the month before the planting, the trees were too large to have been planted under power lines. In all over 13,339 feet of Rochester boulevards are now tree-lined thanks to community volunteers! The City Forester ensured in each planting site that an assortment of appropriate trees was selected including Kentucky Coffee, Accolade Elm, Homestead Elm, Serviceberry, and Amur Maackia. Disease or power lines will not wipe out these trees!
Thanks to all who supported this planting by digging, raking, or cheering by the sidelines. The success of this event truly did hinge on the involvement of so many, making it a community effort to improve our neighborhoods.
We’ll see you at the next NeighborWoods in Rochester event!
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