Props to Casey Trees and Volunteers who Planted more than 550 trees this Fall

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

Since we had depressing tree news yesterday. From a press release:

“More than 550 new trees now call D.C. home thanks to Casey Trees and the 350 volunteers who helped to plant them through Casey Trees’ Fall 2014 Community Tree Planting (CTP) season. The season brings the total number of trees planted by Casey Trees to 18,758, and inches D.C. closer to reaching 40 percent canopy by 2032.

“This season was all about parks, meditation spaces, playground shade and reclaiming lost forests,” said Casey Trees Volunteer Coordinator Katie Blackman. “Casey Trees staff and volunteers made the parks in our area greener for our friends and neighbors.”

One of this season’s largest planting events took place at The Park at LeDroit in Northwest D.C., where in partnership with the LeDroit Park Civic Association, more than 90 volunteers added 46 trees. These trees will enhance the surrounding LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale communities by increasing shade and decreasing storm water runoff in the flood-prone area.

Other sites of note include Battery Kemble Park (41 trees), Takoma Recreation Center (58 trees) and Fort Dupont Park (75 trees). In addition, 125 of the trees were planted at 14 public, private and charter schools across the District.

“We had a spectacular season planting with all types of community partners. It was a wonderful experience seeing and feeling the immediate change that our volunteers create through CTPs. I know that change will reverberate throughout the community,” said Casey Trees Arborist Becky Schwartz.

Established in 2005, the CTP program provides trees, tools and technical assistance at no cost to groups interested in adding 10 or more trees to private and public property. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but those received by May 1, 2015 will be considered for a fall 2015 or spring 2016 planting date. For more information, visit casytrees.org/programs/planting/ctp.”