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Fitchburg committee hears report on Urban Tree Alliance plantings funded through federal grant
Summary
Tree Advisory Committee members reviewed a federal DNR/IRA‑funded partnership that helped plant roughly 170 trees in 2025–26 in disadvantaged neighborhoods; presenters said grant covers first‑year care but long‑term maintenance will fall to the city.
Fitchburg’s Tree Advisory Committee on June 11 received an update on a four‑year urban forestry project funded through the Inflation Reduction Act and administered via the state DNR, part of a partnership between the city and the nonprofit Urban Tree Alliance.
Tierney, a representative of Urban Tree Alliance, and Miriam, a city staff member, told the committee the project focuses on south‑side Madison neighborhoods identified as disadvantaged under the grant’s census‑based criteria. The presenters said the project area already had roughly 1,600 planted trees historically; in 2025–26 about 170 trees were planted in the four target neighborhoods and Urban Tree Alliance accounted for about 117 of those plantings—roughly 70 percent of plantings in that span.
The presenters said the grant has covered planting and first‑year care, with approximately $15,000 spent to date. Miriam said that works out to roughly $130 per tree, including about $100 for the tree itself and $30 for first‑year maintenance. “This partnership allows us to put trees in the ground really quite cheap,” Miriam said.
Committee members asked who would care for the trees after the first year. Tierney and Miriam stressed that first‑year mulching and watering are covered by the award but that ongoing maintenance will be the city’s responsibility. Officials said that, as the planted trees mature, the city will need operating resources—staff time or budget—to sustain the canopy gains.
The presenters described outreach and planting on private property done in partnership with local organizations. Miriam said Urban Tree Alliance worked with groups such as Operation Fresh Start to reach apartment and private‑property residents; Urban Tree Alliance’s Jeremy Kaine described approaching residents directly: “Hey, we’re doing, you know, this free tree grant program through the state. Would you like free trees?”
Committee members praised the partnership and noted the need to factor long‑term maintenance costs into city budgeting. No formal votes were taken on funding changes; the committee asked staff to continue monitoring survival rates and to present budget options and inventory figures at future meetings. The presenters said the city’s public‑facing tree inventory will be updated so residents can see plantings and track progress.
The committee did not take formal action on the partnership at the meeting; members said they expect to continue the collaboration while staff and partners track plant survival and maintenance needs.
