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Commission plans fall plantings, pursues ODNR urban‑forestry grant and reviews tree‑bank resources
Summary
Commissioners discussed a possible fall planting in November, an ODNR urban forestry grant application for about $100,000, the tree bank balance (approximately 300 trees valued at about $230 each) and recent BioBlitz data with nearly 300 iNaturalist submissions.
The Athens Shade Tree Commission outlined several near‑term program priorities at its May 8 meeting: planning a fall tree‑planting event, applying for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources urban forestry grant, and reviewing the city tree bank and recent BioBlitz results.
Commission members proposed scheduling the planting in the fall — historically the city has done plantings in late October or the first Saturday in November — and settled on planning for the second Saturday in November to avoid overlapping a local Uptown Halloween event. A planting plan discussed included roughly 20 trees around a new outdoor gym, along a bike path near the new firehouse, and in a riverside patch of open space.
Commission member Gene said the commission intends to apply for the second round of ODNR urban forestry funding and is “planning to apply for around a hundred thousand dollars in funding to fund a comprehensive kind of pilot urban forestry program here in the city.” Gene said partners are engaged and the commission will seek the city administration and city council’s support.
Commissioners also reviewed the city’s tree bank: the chair reported a recent estimate of about 300 trees available and an equivalent per‑tree value of roughly $230, which could be used for saplings or reallocated to removals, pruning and maintenance. The commission discussed stretching tree‑bank resources beyond saplings to include maintenance work.
Separately, the commission reported on a BioBlitz held in the previous month that produced almost 300 iNaturalist observations; those submissions will be integrated into the commission’s GIS inventory when staff time permits.
Action/direction: commissioners agreed to set a planning date for the fall planting, pursue ODNR grant partners and city support, and follow up with the auditor for a tree‑bank accounting. A backyard planting request on Harris Drive was noted and the commission agreed to follow up with the resident.
