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Harvard tree board sets Oct. 3 planting at Shadow Creek, aims to use $1,900 Trees Forever grant
Summary
The Harvard Tree Board agreed July 1 to host a Trees Forever volunteer planting at Shadow Creek on Oct. 3, 2026, to spend $1,900 in reimbursement funds by year‑end; members discussed volunteer recruitment, site logistics and whether to reduce the number of trees if volunteers are limited.
The Harvard Tree Board on July 1 tentatively scheduled a volunteer planting for 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at Shadow Creek to use remaining Trees Forever reimbursement funds that must be spent by Dec. 31. Board members said the grant requires trees be in the ground and volunteer documentation before reimbursement can be requested.
Why it matters: the board has $1,900 remaining from Trees Forever funding and must spend it this calendar year, officials said during the meeting. Members emphasized that the grant is reimbursement‑based and requires a public volunteer event with photos showing trees planted.
Discussion and logistics: board members and staff weighed site options including Shadow Creek, Northfield Park and focused street blocks such as Roosevelt cul‑de‑sac. They flagged several constraints: volunteer turnout has been uneven in prior plantings, some neighborhoods have high rental conversions that complicate homeowner commitments, and dispersed plantings increase watering and staff travel burdens. To reduce staff time, members proposed concentrating the Trees Forever planting at a single park site, pre‑digging holes and soliciting help from local landscapers and congregations.
Program details: participants discussed tree sizes and minimums. Trees Forever seedlings are small (five‑gallon to perhaps 10‑ or 15‑gallon stock rather than large field‑dug trees), and some programs expect 35–40 trees for a standard block campaign; the board agreed it could reduce the number to as few as 10–20 in a church/park hybrid if volunteer capacity is limited. Members suggested an August publicity push, a flyer drop in the targeted area and a short registration window to avoid weather‑driven no‑shows.
Partnerships and next steps: the board discussed partnering with Open Lands (Openlands/Open Lands), which in past years handled tree delivery, locating and many logistics. Members also volunteered to canvas neighborhood streets, contact landscapers for donated time and equipment, and ask a nearby church to recruit congregants. Staff will confirm site logistics and water access (hydrants) and support marking planting locations; volunteers Anna and others agreed to follow up with church contacts. The board plans to begin advertising in mid‑August and finalize signups and site marking before October.
Outcome and follow up: the board recorded a consensus to target Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at Shadow Creek for the Trees Forever event, subject to final confirmation from staff and partner groups. If volunteer numbers remain low, the board said it will consider a reduced tree count and concentrated park or church planting. The board will report back with final logistics and any required budget or procurement steps.
