WESTBOROUGH – The town’s Department of Public Works was recently awarded $91,750 to plant trees at Lake Chauncy.
According to Tree Warden Kyle Grendell, the trees will be planted along Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Way, between the dog park and the Del Webb residences.
“All trees will be bareroot material, and we will plant strategically within a 500-foot radius of a hydrant for the installation of a drip line irrigation system (for the trees only),” said Grendell. “This is a first of its kind in our local industry (urban forestry). We anticipate a reduction in water, labor and fuel costs by at least 40% compared to traditional methods used in establishing newly planted trees, with the added benefit of achieving a higher success rate.”
The grant was part of more than $426,000 from the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) awarded to seven organizations to increase the urban tree canopy in environmental justice communities across the state.
DCR is awarding the funding through the agency’s Urban and Community Forestry Environmental Justice Grant Program.
“We are grateful for the funding of this project. Urban foresters are charged with a monumental task as it relates to the care and planning of our future forests.This remarkable opportunity empowers Westborough to transform its canopy,” said Grendell. “These trees will beautify the park, cool our corridor, and provide future generations a place of respite and joy as they help attain our climate action goals throughout the town.”
“DCR is committed to increasing the urban tree canopy across the state to promote climate resilience and make our communities healthier places to live and work,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “The Urban and Community Forestry Environmental Justice Grant Program will add to our work through programs like Greening the Gateway Cities that help improve the lives of residents and workers in some of our most vulnerable communities by mitigating the effects of climate change.”
The funding for the Urban and Community Forestry Environmental Justice Grant Program is part of a $1.5 billion investment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program from President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
