Back to SearchKITCHENER – Today, in celebration of Arbor Week, the City of Kitchener with Reep Green Solutions will announce the launch of a new Tree Planting Pilot. Divided into two streams, this program supports residents city-wide interested in planting trees on both private and public lands.
“Residents have told us, through recent community engagements, that trees in the city and the benefits they provide are important to them, says Denise McGoldrick, Kitchener’s General Manager of Infrastructure Services. “We’re excited to be partnering with Reep Green Solutions to deliver this subsidized program and offer residents educational workshops about the positive impact trees have on our cities tree canopy.”
The new Tree Planting Pilot is segmented into the following streams:
Stream 1: City-wide Subsidized Tree Planting Pilot on residential property. Each successful individual applicant will receive:
- A consultation with Reep Green Solutions providing advice on selecting trees that will meet the goals of the property owner and guidance on how to care for their trees.
- A subsidized tree planted by Reep Green Solutions on their property.
- A follow-up visit to check on the health of their tree(s).
- Educational workshops and consultations on tree maintenance.
Stream 2: Neighbourhood Tree Planting Pilot in neighbourhood parks. Each successful application (submitted by a group of neighbours) to plant in a neighbourhood park will receive:
- Support to plant 10-15 trees on public, city-owned property.
- The opportunity to host a neighbourhood gathering to celebrate the tree planting.
- Educational workshops and consultations on tree maintenance.
Applications will open beginning May 6, 2019 and will close July 1, 2019. For program and application details, please visit www.kitchener.ca/trees. Plantings are expected to take place during National Forest Week, Sept. 22-28, 2019.
“The launch of this program aligns nicely with Arbor Week, an annual observance that celebrates the important role trees play in our communities and promotes annual tree planting and maintenance initiatives, says David Schmitt, Kitchener’s Environmental & Urban Forestry Project Manager. In Ontario Arbor Week runs from the last Friday in April to Mother’s Day (May 12).
This pilot program contributes to the city’s Sustainable Urban Forest and Love My Hood strategies by bringing residents together to create green public spaces and expand Kitchener’s tree canopy. Kitchener’s urban forest strategy was developed to “manage and enhance the urban forest so that it will continue to make a long-term contribution to the livability of Kitchener.” To learn more about Kitchener’s first urban forest strategy and subscribe to the Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy newsletter visit www.kitchener.ca/trees.
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