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Erie moves forward on city tree inventory, to plant 200 trees with DCNR grant
Summary
City staff signed a contract to begin a street-tree and park-tree inventory using initial funding of about $80,000–$100,000 and will plant 200 trees funded through a DCNR grant with youth crews; priorities include underserved neighborhoods such as East Avenue south of Sixth Street.
City of Erie staff and the Environmental Advisory Council reported July 23 that the city has executed a contract to begin a street-tree and park-tree inventory and will use an initial funding tranche to inventory and prioritize planting in underserved neighborhoods.
Erin, the city sustainability coordinator, said the city has approximately $80,000–$100,000 identified for the first phase of the inventory and will focus initial work on street trees and lawn-area trees in parks (not forested parklands). The inventory contractor will start work immediately, and staff plan to prioritize neighborhoods with low canopy cover. Erin said Mercyhurst University, Groundwork Erie and other partners will assist; Groundwork Erie will plant 200 trees funded by a DCNR grant.
Council members discussed rough estimates of total trees in the city and noted that street-tree counts could range in the tens of thousands; staff said the inventory will clarify actual numbers and support development of a maintenance plan. The sustainability coordinator said youth participants from the city’s green team will assist with tree planting projects this fall.
The council identified East Avenue south of Sixth Street as a top priority area for planting due to very low existing canopy.
