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City highlights urban-forestry grants, hires and volunteer program; recognizes Keep Clean Saturday volunteers
Summary
The City of Lynn presented an update on new urban-forestry grants, youth hiring and community tree-planting progress and held a recognition ceremony for volunteers from the Keep Clean Saturdays program; staff said 32 of 150 trees targeted under a federal grant have been planted and volunteer engagement is growing.
City planning staff and volunteers presented an update on urban-forestry work and the council formally recognized volunteer groups that supported the city’s Keep Clean Saturdays program.
Erica Holm, urban forestry planner in the planning department, told the council she started in June 2024 and that the city has secured roughly $682,981 in urban-forestry grants, including a federal Inflation Reduction Act-funded grant administered through the Arbor Day Foundation and a DCR Greening the Gateway Cities award. Holm said the grant will fund tree planting, a paid youth program, and an urban-forest plan; she reported 32 of 150 planned trees have been planted so far under the program.
Holm said the city’s interactive online tree map and a new tree-request form will allow residents to request plantings; she invited councillors and residents to submit locations for new street trees. “We’ve planted 32 out of the 150 trees, which puts us ahead of our goals,” Holm said.
Separately, the council recognized volunteers, neighborhood groups and organizations for the seventh season of Keep Clean Saturdays — a recurring volunteer-driven cleanup campaign. Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said the effort “shows real leadership” and thanked volunteers, council co-chairs and DPW staff for organizing and supporting the program.
The planner and DPW staff said further outreach and tree‑pit expansion work is planned for spring 2025; the planning department will prioritize canopy growth in neighborhoods identified as heat islands.
Ending
The planning department asked residents to submit tree requests via the posted online form and said the paid youth program will begin recruiting soon; staff will return with more planting schedules and a prioritization plan.
