Council Approves Two State Urban Forestry Grants to Replace Street Trees

City Council approved acceptance of two New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Urban and Community Forestry grants during Monday’s work session.

Juliet Furling, presenting for the parks/forestry team, said the awards were two grants—one for $25,000 and another for $33,000—to purchase and replace street trees that have been lost to age and disease, including damage from emerald ash borer. “The intent is to purchase street trees, city trees, and replace trees that have been lost through age disease,” Furling said.

Furling said the planting plan follows the city’s 2018 tree management plan and updated inventory data (the “tree keeper” dataset). She told council parks staff have applied for multiple grants to implement the plan incrementally and noted the city has not fully funded the original multi‑year implementation schedule.

Council members asked whether the Shade Tree Commission had been consulted; Furling said the commission helped produce the 2018 plan but has not been meeting regularly since the pandemic and staff are working to reengage and adjust meeting rules as needed.

Council voted 6–0 to expedite and approve the grants at the meeting. Staff said the funds will be used to prioritize planting in areas most impacted by past tree loss and to continue the multi‑year implementation of the tree management plan.

Next steps: Parks staff will coordinate species selection, siting and planting schedules consistent with inventory data and with reengaged Shade Tree Commission input when available.