Urban Forestry Commission schedules 31-tree planting at JFK School; delivery set for April 11

The Northampton Urban Forestry Commission confirmed March 5 that 31 native trees will be planted at the JFK School on April 12, with a rain date of April 13 and nursery delivery scheduled for April 11. Commissioner David Lukens said the JFK principal is "100% supportive of the April 12 project."

The plan is part of a broader spring effort the commission and city staff described at the meeting: additional bare-root deliveries and plantings at Ridgeview (about 13–15 trees) and potential sites near Saint Mary's Cemetery, downtown setback locations and other neighborhoods. Commission members said the city could plant roughly 50–60 trees in the spring and that the commission’s annual target remains about 100 trees, subject to staff capacity and volunteer availability.

Why it matters: street and yard trees add canopy cover, reduce urban heat and count toward the city’s Tree City USA / growth award submissions. The commission said increasing the number of trees planted and retained is a priority this year; the city’s Tree City USA application has local approval and awaits final acceptance by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Event logistics and partners: the commission asked members and volunteers to serve as experienced planting leaders on April 12 to supervise many first-time planters and school-based volunteers. Commissioner David Lukens said the JFK principal introduced him to the head of the PTO and that the school will coordinate parent involvement; Dan Moyland, a science teacher at Northampton High School, has agreed to recruit high school students for community-service hours. Chair Jennifer Warner described the planting as a collaboration among the City of Northampton Department of Public Works, Tree Northampton, the Northampton Rotary Club and the Northampton School Department.

Species and supplies: Commissioners listed the giveaway and planting species slated for the spring program: eastern redbud, pawpaw, sweetgum, dawn redwood, winterberry holly, Serbian spruce and swamp white oak. Delivery is scheduled for April 11; the commission set an internal press-release timeline that would require copy to be ready roughly a week before events.

Volunteer recruitment and roles: commissioners said they will ask Rotary members, regular volunteers and city staff to serve as planting leaders; the commission also requested experienced planters to ensure proper planting depth and root handling. The commission discussed logistics for transporting and staging bare-root stock, educational handouts for Arbor Day/Earth Day outreach and an on-site crew for stump grinding and follow-up maintenance.

Funding and staffing notes: commission members discussed federal program changes affecting other communities and observed that Northampton’s tree work is currently funded through the city budget rather than federal grants. Chair Jennifer Warner said the city’s per-capita cost for tree work rose because of higher salaries and equipment costs even though planting numbers were lower.

Other business and formal actions at the meeting: the commission approved the draft minutes by roll-call vote and later moved to adjourn.

Next steps: the commission will finalize volunteer leader lists, confirm the April 11 delivery, circulate species lists for press and educational materials, and continue outreach for downtown setback plantings and other spring sites. A guest speaker is tentatively scheduled for the next meeting; a presentation on the city’s significant-tree ordinance is expected at the commission’s first April meeting.