City, Urban Resources Initiative Partner in $3M Tree-Planting Plan

NEW HAVEN, CT —The city and the Urban Resources Initiative were awarded $3 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program to plant an additional 2,500 trees over the next five years in the Elm City.

The announcement was made Thursday by Mayor Justin Elicker and URI director Colleen Murphy-Dunning as well as urban forestry advocates and other city officials.

According to Elicker's office, the "initiative will help significantly expand New Haven’s urban tree canopy."

It's noted the project is focused on the city's environmental justice neighborhoods, schools and city parks, helping to address neighborhood disparities, creating shade to reduce the heat island effect that’s increasing due to climate change, and improving residents’ overall quality of life.

The funds will also support a planning grant to develop a long-term strategic vision for New Haven’s urban forest, an effort that will both assess New Haven’s tree canopy and create a management plan for the increased care, preservation and growth of New Haven’s urban forest, per Elicker.

New Haven currently partners with URI to plant 500 street trees per year. The new federal grant dollars will enable the city to double its tree plantings per year from 500 to 1,000 trees per year for each of the next five years for a total of 5,000 trees over that time period.

The announcement was made in the schoolyard of King-Robinson Inter-District Magnet School in the Newhallville neighborhood. It included a ceremonial tree planting of the first of the new 2,500 trees.

Residents, business owners, institutions like schools and libraries, and Special Service Districts can request trees by going to uri.yale.edu/request-tree, calling 203-432-6189 or emailing uri@yale.edu.