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Norwalk City reports slow spring plantings, aims for 350–400 trees this year
Summary
Forestry staff told the Norwalk City Tree Committee that just over 50 trees were planted this spring, funding from most capital accounts has been spent, and officials plan to focus fall plantings in the MLK Corridor using remaining DECD grant funds and U.S. Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act grants.
Forestry staff reported to the Norwalk City Tree Committee on Thursday that just over 50 trees were planted this spring and the city is targeting 350 to 400 trees for the calendar year.
The update matters because the city’s remaining planting funds and staff capacity will determine whether officials can meet that target and prioritize planting in environmental-justice neighborhoods. Forestry staff said remaining capital funds tied to a DECD grant will be focused on the MLK Corridor neighborhoods — Hospital Hill, SoNo and Springwood — and that a larger replenishment of the capital budget takes effect July 1.
Forestry staff said, “We’re very low in our tree count at just over 50 trees were planted this spring,” and that most of the city’s tree-planting capital budget was spent last fall. The staff member reported that the remaining DECD grant balance is “just under a $100,000.” They added that the DPW capital budget and the recreation and parks capital budget will be replenished on July 1 and that the DPW capital budget approved as of July 1 is $200,000.
Staff described operational steps for the coming months: interns recently added to the forestry team will remain through the fall; staff will begin contacting residents who made tree requests in mid to late July; and planting orders will be placed with Olmstead so crews can begin planting as soon as the fall season opens. A watering report from contractors Olmstead and Minutemen is not yet complete and will be presented at the committee’s July meeting, staff said.
Staff also described a resumed tree-inventory effort by consultant Planet Geo. The consultant, which conducted an earlier inventory of about 4,000 sites in 2023, has resumed mapping potential planting locations in the right of way using funding from U.S. Forest Service grants under the Inflation Reduction Act. “They have them plotted on a map,” staff said, and the inventory is intended to speed identification of planting sites.
Committee members asked about backlog and timing. Staff said requests have been backlogged since spring 2024 and that the combination of interns, mapped sites and available grant funds should allow the city to “hit the ground running” for fall plantings.
The committee did not take a formal vote on policy or budget changes at the meeting; the update was informational and staff described next steps and timelines. The committee also noted that the city will focus available resources on disadvantaged neighborhoods identified in the MLK Corridor DECD grant.
Looking ahead, staff will present the watering report at the July meeting, begin direct outreach to residents with pending requests in mid- to late July and place planting orders to prepare for the fall season.
