A project to plant trees in the City of Utica is coming back after a very successful start last year. The Urban Tree Planting Project is looking for City of Utica homeowners who are interested in receiving a free tree, which will be delivered and planted at no charge. Homeowners would be required to care for the trees for a minimum of 2 years. Interested Utica Homeowners are asked to contact Darlene Mack-Brown at (MVCAA) 315-624-9930. Funding for this project is made possible through money raised during a Rotary Club of Utica golf outing held in August, named Tees for Trees.
This Urban Tree Planting project is a cooperative program with The Rotary Club of Utica, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, and the City of Utica Parks Department. The goal is for the trees to thrive over many years and serve to enhance the value of these properties, improving the air quality within the community by reducing carbon emissions, provide a canopy of shade to lower the heat index during summer months, and as recent studies have found, trees planted in urban areas have served to reduce the level of crime.
The deadline to submit an application is May 31st.
Varieties of trees available in 2021 included White Birch, Maple Blaze, Pear varieties, Northern Red Oak, Japanese Lilac, American Linden and more.
