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Miyawaki forests enter maintenance year; city hires contractor and seeks rain‑garden maintenance partner
Summary
The two Miyawaki forests planted last spring are entering a maintenance phase; the department hired Reimagine Roots to maintain them and has issued a bid for a three‑year rain‑garden maintenance contract that will include workforce development and youth training components.
Staff told the Green Worcester advisory committee May 12 that two Miyawaki forests planted last spring have completed their first year and the city will hire a contractor for ongoing maintenance.
The department said it contracted Reimagine Roots (a local firm) to perform regular checks, weeding and infill planting where trees and understory species did not survive the first year. Staff reported that volunteer planting was successful but that volunteer interest for longer-term maintenance had been lower than expected, prompting the hire.
Separately, the city has begun a bidding process for a three‑year rain‑garden maintenance contract covering eight rain gardens. The contract will include evaluation, design work to restore gardens to functional condition, and a workforce-development component that trains youth and other workers in green‑infrastructure maintenance.
Staff framed the contracts as both ecological maintenance and an opportunity to build a local green‑workforce. No additional capital projects or new plantings were approved at this meeting; the actions were contract and procurement steps.
The committee thanked volunteers and members who reviewed the annual report and provided editorial feedback before the department publishes final materials.
