Urban Forestry Commission reports planting drives, grants and a $500,000 grant to add staff

The Stowe Urban Forestry Commission presented its 2024 annual report at the Public Improvements Committee on March 20, outlining planting programs, inventories and grants aimed at expanding and maintaining the city’s tree canopy.

Commissioner Andy Boating (presented as Andy Boatman in records) reported the commission’s volunteer membership and summarized programs from 2024: a resident cost-share program that distributed about 200 trees, a tree-lawn replacement program of around 100 trees, and ash-tree replacement activity accounting for roughly 200 vacancies addressed. The commission reported there are about 3,925 vacant tree sites across the city; at the current replacement rate this implies an average need of 196 trees per year for 20 years to fill those sites. The commission cited an average tree cost of about $300 per tree.

Boating said the commission secured a $500,000 grant (Urban Canopy Restoration Grant) spanning multiple years that will support hiring an additional full-time arborist. The report also described outreach and engagement: a “big tree” contest with 45 entries (top three received modest gift cards), participation in a holiday-tree festival to raise $500 for Akron Children’s Hospital, and plans for an April 26 tree-planting event and sapling giveaway (targeting 300 saplings).

The committee and mayor welcomed the outreach plan and the commission’s work; members noted plans to coordinate school planting events and other community giveaways. The commission said it will publish monthly forestry articles through city communications and continue to pursue tree‑planting and canopy restoration work in 2025.