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Planning staff outlines parks plan, tree inventory and summer neighborhood projects
Summary
Staff described progress on a citywide recreation, parks and open‑space plan, an RFP for a street‑tree inventory and the Love Your Block neighborhood program, including $2,000 mini‑grants for small home repairs and scheduled dumpster cleanups.
City planning staff updated the Erie Planning Commission on multiple ongoing programs May 20, reporting progress on a citywide recreation, parks and open‑space plan, a request for proposals for a tree inventory and the Love Your Block summer program.
Staff said the parks plan’s consultant has cataloged 50 city‑owned parks to date and that the plan will enter an engagement phase across the summer and into September; staff said pop-up events, youth outreach and an online survey will be used to gather community input. Staff pointed to a landing page on the City of Erie website where materials and maps will appear as they are finalized.
On the tree inventory, staff said the city published an RFP for a sustainable urban forest management plan and expects to select a firm soon to inventory street and park trees in 2025. Staff estimated the inventory will cover roughly 25,000 trees in the public right-of-way and said findings will inform future canopy goals and species management.
Staff also provided a brief update on Love Your Block, a neighborhood‑level program now entering its fourth year. Liz Reyes, neighborhood resource team leader, said the program will offer $2,000 mini‑grants for small home‑repair projects this year, will focus work in three areas (Central City, Snoops neighborhood and Buffalo Road) and will pair dumpster cleanups with summer concerts and neighborhood events. Staff said project schedules will be posted on the neighborhood resources web page once finalized.
Finally, staff noted May is National Historic Preservation Month and invited commissioners to a May 29 event at the art museum from 5 to 7 p.m. celebrating the local historic preservation program’s first anniversary and honoring five locally designated landmarks.
