Bridgeport council approves free tree-planting partnership for Memorial Park hillside

Bridgeport’s borough council voted March 24 to partner with the Community Canopy Project to install new trees on the Memorial Park hillside, a program staff described as costing the borough nothing.

"They're giving us decent-sized, several year old trees," borough staff member Mr. Truman said, describing the nonprofit’s offer to supply and plant 8–12-foot balled-and-burlapped trees and to handle species selection and labor "from start to finish." Truman said the project would help restore canopy lost to storms, pests and age and that the group would mark planting locations on the hillside.

Councilmembers praised the plan as a low-cost way to improve neighborhood green space and suggested adding small interpretive plaques about species. Vice President Gundrum and others raised a practical concern about preserving the sledding route on the hillside; the council sought assurances from staff that recreational uses would be respected during planting.

Truman said the nonprofit would bear planting costs and that the borough would work with the organization to coordinate species selection and siting. The council moved and approved the authorization to proceed with the partnership, and members said they looked forward to further details on timing and any volunteer opportunities.

The authorization is an administrative action to proceed with the partnership; the borough did not appropriate funds for the plantings and staff described the arrangement as a no-cost donation of trees and planting services. The council voted in favor and the motion carried.