FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2021
City of Kingston
Awarded $50,000 Grant for Street Trees
Applications Now
Open for Planting Requests
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce the City of Kingston was awarded
$50,000 from the NYSDEC Urban and Community Forestry Grant program to be used
for city-wide tree planting.
With the $50,000 grant and
with a $25% match from the City of Kingston, tree planting funds will total
$62,500 and will be specifically used for street trees. The Tree Commission
estimates to plant between 70-90 trees with this funding, focusing on
neighborhoods that currently lack trees and would benefit from additional shade
and streetscape amenities.
The Tree Commission has
reviewed the City’s tree
inventory to identify locations that are most in need of tree cover. The
City of Kingston is taking applications from homeowners and business owners who
would like to request a tree in front of their property, with special
consideration to priority
areas identified on the map. The Midtown area has been identified as the most
highly-trafficked area that is underserved for street trees.
Plantings will be in the
public right of way, with a commitment from property owners to ensure that the
new trees are well-maintained, particularly in the early stages of planting.
Species will be chosen by the Tree Commission, who will identify types of trees
that will have a positive impact on biodiversity and will be the appropriate
size for the planting locations.
“Our community is passionate
about trees, as we know they provide shade, beautify our streetscapes, and are
beneficial for our mental health and general wellbeing,” said Mayor Noble. “We
are grateful to the DEC for this grant, which will provide so many trees for
our community to enjoy for generations to come.”
“We agree with Mayor Noble,
our urban forest provides numerous benefits for our community. It is also
important to understand that approved locations will require that the property
owners abutting the planting will be responsible for the continued maintenance
of the street tree.” said Suzanne Cahill, Planning Director. “This will
insure the sustainability of the overall program and its success.”
“Trees are vital to our
community life, public health, and our environment,” said Lieutenant Governor
Kathy Hochul. “New York State is proud to celebrate Arbor Day by awarding
grants to 26 outstanding projects in communities across the state to inventory,
plant, and maintain public trees. These innovative projects exemplify New York
State’s commitment to protecting and enhancing our state’s natural resources,
while also beautifying communities and enhancing quality of life for a greener
future.”
The Tree Commission is
accepting applications until September 15, 2021. City staff and commission
members will need to review the sites and verify suitability. Final locations
will be chosen by December 2021 with planting expected to take place spring
2022.
Applications are available in
the Planning Office at City Hall and on the City of Kingston website.
In May 2018, the City of Kingston
completed a tree inventory and management plan of street and park trees.
The inventory was completed by ArborPro with funding from the NYSDEC Urban and
Community Forestry program. The tree inventory identified 3,937 total trees
within the street right-of-way and maintained parkland areas. The inventory
also identified 1198 vacant sites appropriate for new tree plantings.
According to ArborPro’s report, the most
common species in the City of Kingston are Norway maple (13.1%), honey locust
(10.1%), ornamental pear (8.3%), sugar maple (7.6%), and red maple (5.6%) with
a total of 116 different species recorded. Almost 90% of recorded trees were in
fair or better condition. Currently, Kingston’s trees provide $541,095 in
annual environmental benefits.
For more information, visit https://www.kingston-ny.gov/Trees or
contact the Planning Office at 845-334-3954 or [email protected] for
an application.