Northampton honored with Tree City USA and Growth awards; officials share best practices at DCR event

Northampton received Tree City USA recognition for the 18th year and a Growth Award for the eighth consecutive year, city staff reported at the July 2 meeting.

“ So we are officially been awarded our Tree City USA and growth award for our eighth year. And our Tree City USA is 18 years, and our growth award is 8 years in a row,” said Rich Parasolini, the city’s tree warden, describing the awards presentation he attended in Malden.

Parasolini summarized two presentations at the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) event that he said the commission may find useful. Chris Rosa, tree warden and cemetery supervisor in Malden, described a permeable paver roadway installed at a municipal cemetery. Parasolini recounted the demonstration: “He had a 1 inch hose there running on the ground for the whole time we were there, and the water just disappeared.” He said the system is built on multilayers of crushed stone and designed to infiltrate most flows while tying into the city stormwater system for extreme events.

The DCR fire chief, Dave Salino, gave a briefing on the previous year’s fire season and wildfire coordination with municipal officials; Parasolini said heavier spring rains had eased immediate wildfire concerns but cautioned that last year’s dry summer conditions remain a learning point for preparedness.

Parasolini also noted that a Greenfield tree committee described a college‑run tree nursery funded by DCR grant money and that the awards package included signage to commemorate Northampton’s Tree City USA status.

Less critical detail: staff discussed issuing a press release to raise awareness of the award; the commission suggested local media coverage in the Hampshire Gazette and noted the city had published a press release on the city website listing the recognition.