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Euclid urban forestry plan on hold after grant cancellation; staff report new award and project work
Summary
The commission heard that the Urban Forest Comprehensive Plan is on hold after IRE grant funding was canceled; the city received a $2,000 WEEJ Small City Sustainability Award and staff outlined multiple park and trail projects and an RFQ for design services.
City urban forestry staff told the Shade Tree Commission that the Urban Forest Comprehensive Plan is paused after the cancellation of an IRE grant, and reported a $2,000 award and several active park and trail projects.
"The Urban Forest Comprehensive Plan is on hold due to the IRE grant funding cancellation, as you are all aware," Jody, the City of Euclid urban forester, told commissioners. Jody also reported that the city will receive a $2,000 WEEJ Small City Sustainability Award from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative; Mayor Gale is scheduled to accept the award at the program's conference in May.
Staff updated commissioners on multiple park and pedestrian projects managed by the planning division. Jody said construction at Hero Park has begun with electrical work and lighting installation along the north leg of an existing trail, with landscaping and trail work to follow. Upland Sims Park expansion and Russell Avenue Park projects are under construction or in progress, and the Lakeshore pedestrian improvement project is nearing completion with a punch‑list walkthrough scheduled.
Jody also reported a March 10 request for qualifications (RFQ) for engineering and landscape architecture services for the East 215th Street Trail and Heritage Park projects; four firms responded and the submittals were slated for review the following week. "The East 215th Street Trail is a current path that's going to be upgraded and widened that runs along a utility's right of way," Jody said, noting community involvement in the Heritage Park work.
The planning division will manage a third‑party landscape maintenance and watering contract for newly installed medians on East 218th to East 220th, beginning in spring and continuing in fall. Staff said tree protection measures have been added to Russell Avenue Park plans after commission input.
Why it matters: The paused comprehensive plan, new sustainability award and on‑the‑ground park and trail projects show Euclid's urban forestry program shifting from assessment to implementation despite constrained grant funding.
Commissioners also discussed public outreach tools: a new tree dropdown menu on the city's website under the resident tab, and an upcoming Tree City USA event in Avon on May 15 for which the city will sponsor commissioners' attendance.
