SPOKANE – This month, approximately 100 new street trees will be planted in the West Central and Bemiss neighborhoods, as a part of the SpoCanopy program.
A portion of those trees will be planted October 11 – 13 by The Lands Council Staff and volunteers, with City Arborist assistance. Additional trees will be planted by a tree service
contractor throughout the month of October.
The Lands Council staff and their volunteers conducted extensive outreach throughout the neighborhoods and identified places where trees were needed, and where residents are
willing to care for them.
The funding for these trees is provided by a combination of a Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Grant, and through a Department of
Ecology grant. A corporate sponsor, Avista, generously donated funds for a portion of the trees, and Townshend Winery and The Wander Project are also local sponsors of the
project.
What is SpoCanopy?
SpoCanopy is a partnership between City of Spokane Urban Forestry and The Lands Council. It aims to ensure every person in every neighborhood in Spokane has access to trees
and the many benefits they provide. One hundred trees were planted through the program this spring, and 100 more will be planted this fall, at no charge to residents.
SpoCanopy works with residents and volunteers to plant trees and beautify our city. Our goal is for every neighborhood in Spokane to have 30% canopy coverage by 2030. Priority
locations include northeast neighborhoods which currently have the fewest trees and lowest canopy coverage.
Trees provide a wide variety of benefits such as storm water mitigation, providing habitat for wildlife and increasing property values. Trees also help to boost immune systems by
reducing area pollution and air-borne particles. Studies have shown that time spent in nature and around trees can even reduce stress!
Free Street Trees – learn more
Residents can sign up for a free street tree by visiting The Lands Council’s webpage at Urban Canopy — The Lands Council. The planting location must be within the City of Spokane
city limits and within the right-of-way. The right-of-way area may be a defined planting strip or in some neighborhoods, space behind a sidewalk, or area adjacent to a curb (with no
sidewalk). More information can also be found online at the link above.
Original source can be found here.
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