The Ginter Park Residents’ Association Tree Committee is encouraging North Richmond residents to partner with the City of Richmond to plant new trees in public spaces.

The City of Richmond has a program called Adopt-A-Tree where individual homeowners may make an application to the Urban Forestry Division to have a tree or trees planted on city property near the homeowner s location. The cost to the homeowner is $50.00 for the first tree and $150.00 for each additional tree. This cost is tax deductible. The City will plant these trees between November 2008 and February 2009. The City’s contractor will plant the tree and provide a “treegator” for these trees. The homeowner will be responsible for watering the tree for two years after the planting.

The location of the proposed tree will need to be approved by the City prior to the planting. These locations cannot be closer than 25 feet from an alleyway or street intersection, cannot obstruct signs, cannot be closer than 10 feet to a telephone pole or disturb underground utilities and some form of tree can be planted under overhead power lines. Also, if a shade tree is selected, it needs to be about 40 feet from other trees.

To participate in this program, each homeowner will need to fill out an application to the City and pay for the tree/trees to be planted before October 1, 2008. If the location is approved, the City will leave the homeowner a list of 3 trees that can be planted at this location. If the homeowner does not choose a tree, the City will plant the tree they feel fits the existing trees along that street. If the City disapproves the location, the homeowner’s check will be returned.

The Adopt-A-Tree program has a goal of planting approximately 660 trees in the City this year therefore applications will be handled on first come first serve basis. If you are interested in having a tree planted it is recommended that an application be submitted as soon as possible. To download an application, go to www.richmondgov.com, then choose department (Public Works), then choose Vegetation & Urban forestry at the bottom of the page. A link to the actual site will be provided on the Ginter Park Residents’ Association website.