Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban Forestry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board discusses urban forestry grant, Arbor Day plantings and tree-planting corridors
Summary
Park staff and board members reviewed an urban forestry grant planting plan being drafted by Wendy Van Buren (ODNR) for several corridors, discussed Arbor Day activities and volunteer plantings, and said staff will finalize a draft planting plan for May.
Middletown Park Board members reviewed progress on an urban forestry grant and related tree‑planting and Arbor Day activities at the April 10 meeting.
Staff reported a virtual meeting with Wendy Van Buren of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), who is preparing a formal planting plan tied to a grant that could fund tree purchases and corridor plantings. “Wendy Van Buren with ODNR, she offered to help us with some…we can purchase trees from the grant,” a Park Board speaker said; staff said Wendy is expected to deliver a draft plan by May.
Arbor Day and volunteer activity: board members said Keep Middletown Beautiful and partner organizations have lined up volunteers and corporate partners for Earth Day and Arbor Day activities. A recent event included students potting seedlings and organizations committed volunteers for cleanup and plantings. The board reported roughly 98 volunteers signed up for an upcoming cleanup, and volunteers and contractors will plant trees and perform park maintenance during the Earth Day weekend and Arbor Day events.
Staffing and tree work: park crews plan to perform pruning and maintenance in the coming months. Staff said they will issue an RFP for a citywide tree-risk and canopy assessment tied to the grant, and that some planting may be limited to eligible census tracts under the grant’s requirements. The board also discussed using its own gateway enhancement funds for tree plantings in areas outside grant eligibility.
Ending: staff said they will finalize the draft planting plan in coordination with ODNR and return with a recommended planting list; the board encouraged continued use of volunteers and corporate partners for planting and maintenance.
