City recruiting caretakers for grant-funded replacement trees
Apr. 18—Lockport Community Farmers Market at Harrison Place will host an additional booth Saturday to reconnect city homeowners with something they may be missing: Trees.
Members of the city's tree committee will man a booth at the market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to distribute literature explaining the environmental benefits of trees and take the names of homeowners who had trees removed from the front of their residence and would like a new tree.
According to 2nd Ward Alderman Anita Mullane, the supply is limited. The city acquired approximately 60 trees through a grant and 23 trees have already been claimed.
"The goal of the tree committee is to work with the community to expand awareness and knowledge of tree plantings and care. We will continue to work with the community and our city departments with a goal to replace 60 trees in the city," Mullane said.
Replacement trees are being distributed to properties where trees were removed due to disease, such as infestation by emerald ash borer, or they were unsafe because they were touching power lines.
A new tree will not be placed exactly where the removed tree stood, but it will be placed nearby, Mullane said.
The three kind of trees that the city is distributing are honey locust, hawthorn and service berry. Each of the trees will be four to six feet tall and roughly two inches in diameter. Whoever receives one is asked to water it regularly for at least one month.
Tree committee member Kevin McDonough said that, in the past, not many community members have engaged with the committee, but he is game to talk with anyone about the subject.
"We like to educate people on the benefits of trees," he said.
The 60 trees that are being distributed were funded by the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Urban and Community Forestry Program. The city was awarded a Tree Planting in Disadvantaged Communities grant of $22,075 following the decimation of ash trees, according to Heather B. Peck, director of planning and development.
In keeping with its status as a Tree City USA community, the city will mark Arbor Day (April 26) with a series of tree plantings at Lockport High School West, Outwater Park, Lockport High School, and General Motors.
People Inc. will be planting two trees at Nelson Hopkins Apartments, 5562 Davison Road.
Local businesses and residents are encouraged to undertake their own plantings.
Any city resident who would like a tree to replace one that was removed should contact Mullane at Ward2@LockportNY.gov.
