Major Initiative Aims To Add Greenery To Hartford's Cityscape

KNOX of Hartford

HARTFORD, CT — A city high school site was recently the beneficiary of a tree-planting initiative aiming to bring a little bit of the forest to the concrete jungle of Hartford.

Volunteers from the Connecticut Green Bank and Operation Fuel on April 25 joined KNOX and the City of Hartford in celebrating Arbor Day by planting 21 trees at Weaver High School.

The planting served as a kick-off event for the Capital Forest Stewardship Initiative.

This year, the initiative aims to plant a total of 250 trees in Blue Hills and Northeast neighborhoods of Hartford and hundreds more across Hartford in the years to come.

“We love serving our community, ensuring that everyone can enjoy Hartford's parks, golf courses, and our urban forest. We wait all winter for the flowers to bloom and the leaves to shine; Arbor Day is a chance to gift shade, clean air, clean water, and beautiful community spaces to our future generations,” said Sophia Rodbell, a city forester.

“These trees will not only enhance the appearance of Thomas Snell Weaver High School but create a cleaner, greener, and healthier learning environment that will improve the quality of life for our students, families, and school community for generations to come,” added Tiffany Webley, principal of Thomas Snell Weaver High School.

To plant the trees, volunteers from the Connecticut Green Bank and Operation Fuel worked with participants in the KNOX Green Jobs Apprentice program.

“Our work today showcases the power of trees to connect the people across our community,” explained Patrick Doyle, KNOX's executive director, “Together, apprentices, volunteers, residents, and community leaders are expanding access to the benefits that trees provide to everyone in Hartford.”

“We are happy to be here to celebrate Arbor Day with our community. This site is a great representation of how the right tree, in the right place, can provide optimal benefits to all who love Hartford parks,” said Hartford Mayor Arulampalam.

“We look forward to watching these trees grow and mature, whose roots will stabilize this land and whose shade we may one day sit under.”

Founded in 1966, KNOX is a Hartford-based nonprofit committed to "empowering communities to grow a greener, healthier Hartford." More information is available at www.knoxhartford.org.