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Tree commission plans outreach and Arbor Day events; discusses tree giveaways, education partnerships
Summary
Commissioners discussed expanding community outreach: a potential tree-giveaway program, partnering with Franklin Soil & Water and local nurseries for education-and-rebate programs, an Arbor Day author event and book talks, and monthly or cohort-based tree education offerings tied to the library and local organizations.
Commissioners and staff discussed several community-engagement ideas intended to boost tree planting and public knowledge about tree care.
Mary McMunn told the commission that Rooted in Bexley, the library's program series, will present several speakers early in 2025 and that the library will host registration details on its events page. Commissioners proposed linking library programming and civic outreach with tree education and planting programs.
Options discussed included: a short, in-person education session tied to a small tree giveaway or voucher program (participants complete a short class and receive a voucher to purchase a tree from a partner nursery); pilot tree giveaways targeted at specific streets where the city wants new canopy; partnerships with Franklin Soil & Water (which staff said offers an online course tied to a tree-purchase rebate) or local nurseries; and a volunteer-driven door-hanger campaign to distribute concise educational materials about planting and proper mulching.
Commissioners also discussed timing and audiences: offering daytime sessions for working adults who might be unavailable evenings; targeting scouts and school programs for hands-on planting projects; and presenting materials for new homeowners at community events. The commission discussed combining education with modest financial incentives or voucher rebates to increase take-up; speakers noted that previous free tree drop-offs had sometimes resulted in low follow-up maintenance by recipients.
Arbor Day plans: staff and volunteers are organizing an April Arbor Day program that will include an author talk (Amy Stewart) and other activities; the commission said it will create a small organizing committee and canvass volunteers to staff outreach tables at upcoming homeowner and community events.
Ending: Commissioners agreed to develop a scoping proposal for a tree-giveaway or education pilot (staff and the mayor to draft an approach), coordinate with Franklin Soil & Water or other partners on possible classroom or rebate programming, and to bring a proposal back to the commission for approval and scheduling.
