The Town of Vernon has been awarded a $131,415 grant to carry out a tree planting project in the Rockville section of town.
The competitive grant, obtained by Vernon’s Planning Department, is one of only 10 awarded to urban and community forestry projects across the state.
For a map of the project area, visit: www.vernon-ct.gov/government/community-projects/urban-forest-equity-grant
Vernon’s “Live Here - Love Trees” program is intended to expand green spaces through the planting of at least 50 new, native species trees to increase tree equity in the Rockville section of town, which is classified as economically and environmentally disadvantaged.
“More trees benefits our community in a variety of ways, but none is more important that the positive impact trees have by shading and cooling our neighborhoods,” Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. “Thanks to this grant we will be able add trees to public spaces, and work with residential and commercial property owners to add trees and increase Rockville’s tree canopy.”
Across Connecticut, disease, pests and drought have taken a toll on trees. That trend is even more pronounced in urban areas, where trees are older and more susceptible to pests and disease. The Town has removed trees because they have fallen victim to the emerald ash borer, spongy moths and drought.
Under the grant, the Town of Vernon also plans to provide hands-on tree education, including proper care, maintenance and stewardship of trees, raise awareness of the health and ecosystem benefits of trees, and increase access to green spaces for residents and visitors.
Funding for the Live Here – Love Trees program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Equity Grant, administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and supported by the Inflation Reduction Act. Resident homeowners and businesses within the project boundaries are eligible to participate. The project area is north of South Street, east of West Road, south of the Ellington line and west of Grove and Prospect streets.
For additional information visit the link listed above, or contact Leslie Campolongo, Town of Vernon Planning Specialist, at 860-870-3635 or by email at Lcampolongo@vernon-ct.gov.