Salem State To Plant 36 Trees With 'Greening the Gateway Cities' Grant

SALEM, MA — Salem State University is planting 36 new trees on its Harrington Campus as part of the $1 million "Greening the Gateway Cities" state program designed to bring more urban tree canopies in "gateway" cities across the Commonwealth.

Salem and Lynn combined to be awarded $310,931 from the program with the school and neighboring cities anticipating to add more than 350 trees to the urban landscape.

Salem State also recently partnered with the Department of Conservation and Recreation through the GGCP to plant 50 trees of diverse species on North Campus, at the O’Keefe Complex, Stanley Building, and along the bike path, with more trees to come this fall. The new grant funding allows the university to plant trees on the Harrington Campus, where students have specifically requested more trees.

"They say the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, and the second-best time is today," SSU Sustainability Coordinator Tara Gallagher said. "So, it's never too late."

The program ensures that the trees are properly planted, are diverse species, and receive initial watering and treatment support.

"Planting trees in urban areas helps neighborhoods that lack tree canopy and suffer from the urban heat island effect of being hotter than surrounding areas in the summer," Gallagher said. "Tree planting also brings stormwater management, wildlife habitat and other benefits, as well as beautifying our campus."

Rebecca Tepper, secretary to the state's Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said: "Reducing the urban heat island effect is a top priority, and our non-profit partnerships through the GGCP will help cool our neighborhoods, towns and cities."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)