May 19, 2009
Nebraska Forest Service Announces Tree Planting Grant Recipients
LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Forest Service has awarded $150,000 in grants to 13 Nebraska communities.
The grant program called Shade our Streets will fund planting about 888 large-maturing shade trees at 17 project sites.
"The grant focuses on planting large-maturing shade trees along public right-of-ways to increase canopy in areas which have few, declining or no trees," said Jessica Kelling, Shade our Streets grant administrator with the Nebraska Forest Service.
Organizations and communities may apply for up to 80 percent of their project's cost and must be able to match the award with local funds. With local matching dollars, the total value of all 2009 grant project proposals is $210,326.
The Shade Our Streets grant program is one of three community grants that are part of ReTree Nebraska, a 10-year cooperative initiative created to reverse the decline of Nebraska's community forests.
"The Shade Our Streets projects include planting trees along streets in the downtown areas and along streets near schools, city parks and other public spaces," said Kelling. "Research has shown that trees planted along streets can help slow traffic and extend the life of streets and parking lots by shading them. Trees create pleasing streets for walking, which results in healthier communities, and consumers respond positively to shopping environments with a healthy urban forest."
The grants come to the Nebraska Forest Service through the Nebraska Department of Road's Community Enhancement Program.
For more information about the benefits of community forests, ReTree Nebraska and other grant opportunities, visit ReTree Nebraska.
2009 NCEP SOS Funded Projects include:
Cozad: Cozad Elementary Shade Our Schools, $18,500
Fremont: Replanting Our Legacy street trees, $18,100
Hastings: Hastings Park Arboretum street trees, $18,600
Laurel: Street Tree Replacement Program, $2,500
Lexington: Kirkpatrick Memorial Park street trees, $6,000
Lincoln: Downtown Lincoln street trees, $19,700
Ogallala: West 5th Street tree project, $7,200
Omaha: Restoration and Renovation of Joslyn Castle Landscape, $4,500
Omaha: Omaha Downtown Arboretum street trees, $10,000
Omaha: White Hawk Park street trees, $6,500
Omaha: Hillrise Elementary School street trees, $2,700
Omaha: Zorinsky Park Aquatic Center street trees, $5,500
Polk: street tree project, $16,000
Wayne: Wayne State College street and parking lot trees, $4,200
Scottsbluff: Dr. Alan C. Landers Soccer Complex street trees, $10,000
5/19/09-SK Jessica Kelling
Nebraska Forest Service ReTree Nebraska Coordinator (402) 472-0220
 
Sandi Alswager Karstens IANR News and Photography (402) 472-3030
Department:
Nebraska Forest Service
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