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Shade Tree Commission unveils plan to plant 100 trees in Castleton Park to restore canopy
Summary
The Shade Tree Commission reported losses in tree canopy and launched a bid to plant roughly 100 trees in Castleton Park ("Bartha Woods"), plus targeted inventory and planting in wards 4 and 5; council praised the initiative and funding will come from restricted trusts.
The township's Shade Tree Commission told the council on April 28 that Franklin has lost a measurable amount of tree canopy and outlined a multi‑year plan to restore canopy in selected neighborhoods and parks.
Steve Galuli, chair of the Shade Tree Commission, told the council the most recent canopy data (2023) show the township "has lost a couple hundred acres of tree coverage," and said the commission is prioritizing wards 4 and 5 for new plantings and community forestry planning.
The commission described immediate steps already under way: a community tree sale (white oaks and serviceberries), state‑allocated Salem oak saplings planted on municipal historic properties, and a consultant‑led tree inventory for wards 4 and 5 to inform a community forestry management plan required by the state.
The centerpiece of the presentation was a request for contractors to bid on planting roughly 100 trees to reforest part of Castleton Park — a project the commission has dubbed "Bartha Woods" in honor of the property's historic owners. Galuli said the planting could occur this summer if bids and contractor availability permit, or in the fall planting season otherwise.
Funding and governance: The presentation noted that most tree projects use restricted trust funds or grant revenue; commissioners emphasized that the projects described are funded from tree and open‑space trust accounts that cannot be diverted to general operations. Galuli also encouraged stronger outreach to residents about proper species selection and tree care to reduce removal of private trees.
Why it matters: Commission leaders said increasing canopy reduces summer temperatures, improves air quality and increases property values, and stressed that targeted urban forestry can address heat‑island and environmental‑justice concerns in denser neighborhoods.
What comes next: The commission expects to release bid documents, finalize the inventory and update the township's community forestry management plan. Council members applauded the outreach and asked staff to coordinate timing and communications.
