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KNOWLEDGE EMPOWERING PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY ENABLING CITIES TO SUPPORT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTS.
 University of Idaho Communcations
UI and City of Lewiston recently dedicated a cooperative tree planting and research project. The project will bring beauty to Lewiston's new Syringa Park and provide valuable information for westerners. "The thing that is most exciting to me is that it is such an excellent partnership between the city and the university," said Mike Bowman, Lewiston's city forester. The location reflects the spirit of cooperation as well. Syringa Park was created through efforts by neighborhood residents, Bowman said. The park is one of the city's newest and is located in the city's southwest sector near the Lewiston Country Club. More than 70 trees were planted this spring. In a few years, the Syringa Park planting will rank among the largest testing grounds in the West for ornamental crabapple trees, said John Lloyd, a UI professor with the Urban Landscape Ecology Laboratory at Moscow. When planting is complete, Lloyd said, the park will contain 400 crabapple trees representing 80 different cultivars. Syringa Park will serve as one of six test locations chosen nationally. UI students will participate in the project, which will test the fitness and appeal of new crabapple cultivars in Idaho's arid climate. The research will include the effects on the trees of landscape maintenance practices and the effects of compost or bark mulches and other treatments. Power-Plant Waste Strengthens Park Pavilion Once considered a nuisance, fly ash from the San Juan power plant will help strengthen a structure in a community park as part of an environmental stewardship program in New Mexico. Public Service Company of New Mexicois working with Tree New Mexico, a nonprofit environmental organization, and the Los Lunas Parks and Recreation Department to construct a pavilion in the community's RiverPark. The pavilion will be built using small logs, cleared as part of a cleanup project, and concrete that contains at least 25 percent fly ash, a waste product from the coal-fueled San Juan generating plant. The method is called stackwall construction. The pavilion will be one of the crowning touches in a months long project, said Suzanne Probart, executive director for Tree New Mexico. OpenRoadPark Open Road put together the following website to educate community members inManhattanabout their East Village Living Memorials Project and University Design Collaboration with Cornell landscape architecture graduate students. It's a fine educational tool, community bulletin board, and calling card for participatory design. http://www.openroadny.org/livingmemorial.htm Romney Announces Points Of Light Winner For July, 2003 Governor Romney today announced that Anthony Sanchez of Somerville has received the Governor's Points of Light Award for July. Romney lauded him for his tireless work in connecting urban youth to the natural environment. "I am pleased to recognize Anthony Sanchez for his commitment to the inner-city youth of Massachusetts," Romney said. "His work with young people who have grown up in our urban centers provides them an invaluable gift that they will carry with them always." 
In 1990, Sanchez co-founded Eagle Eye Institute, which uses the power of nature to transform urban youth. Eagle Eye provides access to hands-on exploratory learning on environmental topics and career bridging to natural resource fields. He developed and implemented Eagle Eye's first program - Learn About Forests - and has involved over 2,500 multiethnic youth from Massachusetts in carefully planned experiences in nature that include environmental learning, stewardship and career programs. The Governor's Points of Light Award is modeled after the national Points of Light Foundation's Award and is given monthly to a Massachusetts resident who has made a significant impact in the community through service and volunteerism. The Governor's Office works collaboratively with the Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA), the non-profit state commission on community service, to administer the award to individuals nominated for outstanding service. "The Massachusetts Service Alliance is proud to play a role in recognizing individuals who contribute to their communities through service and volunteerism," said Nancy Korman, Chair of the Massachusetts Service Alliance Board of Directors. A panel of judges, including a representative from the Governor's Office and members of the MSA Board, evaluate the nominations and make recommendations to the Governor. Massachusetts's citizens of any age who have served their community for at least one year are eligible, and nomination forms may be obtained by contacting the Massachusetts Service Alliance at 617-542-2544 x220 or by visiting www.mass-service.org. For further information about Eagle Eye Institute call 617-666-5222 or visit www.eagleeyeinstitute.org. Albuquerque Partners With Nonprofit to Bolster Urban Canopy "We have no money right now to replace aging trees," Albuquerque Urban Forester Jeff Hart said recently when asked about the city's rapidly declining tree canopy. As in many cities throughout the West, Albuquerque's prized trees - in this case elms -- are over-aged and in their declining years. And there will be an increased need in the next decade to cut down the trees that grew up with the Baby Boomers. Enter Tree New Mexico Executive Director Suzanne Probart and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, who joined their collective forces and signed a memorandum in May to establish the Albuquerque Tree Initiative. Formalizing a longtime alliance in a plan to seek donations from corporations, private individuals and foundations, the ground-breaking initiative will leverage city funds, replace removed trees and plant more in public places. ATI's diverse board will develop financial goals and a marketing plan, organize events and generally guide the initiative. "People love big, arching, canopied trees for the shade and atmosphere," said Hart. "If we replace them with live trees, it's easier for the public to accept the removal of trees that are dead." Visit Tree New Mexico at http://www.treenm.com -- learn more about this program at http://www.treenm.com/6PROGRAM.htm#ati or email questions to Suzanne Probart at tnm @treenm.com. NeighborWoods Program Shines at Sacramento Tree Foundation Arden Park is a mature Sacramento neighborhood faced with the crisis of Modesto ash trees in decline. A group of residents called Save Our Street Trees involved their neighborhood in NeighborWoods visioning sessions and found that residents wanted a consistent look with equal spacing and setbacks for their street trees. From there they developed a plan that will achieve a healthy diversity of trees while also giving a consistent look to the streets. How did they get their neighbors to join in and make the plan reality? They picked a tree planting day, Oct. 27, decorated a float for the July 4 Parade, distributed flyers in the neighborhood, and sent block captains out door-to-door to fill all the empty spots with new trees. On Oct. 27, 2002 they planted 320 new trees along the streets and have made National Make A Difference Day their annual Tree Day in Arden Park. They developed a website (http://www.ardenparktrees.org/home.php) and a regular newsletter to keep their neighbors informed and raised over $1000 to keep the campaign going. Way to go Arden Park! If you would like information on the NeighborWoods Program contact Steve Schweigerdt at the Sacramento Tree Fundation (916)924-8733 x 114 or nbrwoods @sactree.com. Become a Champion, Help Underserved Youth Learn About Forests EEI is currently recruiting Champions to coordinate LAF programs in summer 2003. Visit www.eagleeyeinstitute.org and go to "Learn about running an EEI program in YOUR community" to access detailed information about the program and partnership opportunity, including profiles of current partners. If you are interested in taking on the program, complete the online application and submit it to EEI by March 1, 2003. Tree Inventory Wins Kudos for Texas Forestry Crew In 1995 the first tree inventory was initiated there, using pencil, paper and Microsoft Access database. Using a global positioning system (GPS), all 702 trees were located, hazard rated, and transferred into the geographic information system (GIS) database. Using ArcView software, the data was uploaded into the computer. This produced a database and provided the ability to make maps. From there, the information was used to project the future rate of decline, available planting space, species diversity, condition, and diameter distribution. A management plan was written for the Mayfest trees that included a removal of hazardous trees, a planting schedule and specific species diversity requirements. The inventory showed that 88% of the trees were comprised of just three species. After analyzing the species diversity and diameter distribution maps, 31 species were strategically planted in Trinity Park this year. To find out more, email John Giedraitis at jpg@tfs.tamu.edu Grant and Outreach Assist Tree Musketeers Also of note, TreeMusketeers had stories in four mainstream books that were published this year. Chicken Soup For The Volunteer's Soul (about an at-risk youth ordered to do community service who found himself in urban forestry and went on to become TM's president); The Future of Leadership by Warren Bennis (a provocative chapter on youth leadership authored by Tara Church); The Leadership Challenge by Jim Kouzes (about communicating a vision); and Geeks and Geezers by Warren Bennis (about the differences between young leaders and their predecessors). For more information, visit TreeMusketeers.org and say howdy from TreeLink. A Beautiful Texas Award Winner The project set out to plant a small garden at each fire station and a large garden in a city park. Project planning began in January 2002 and dedication of the gardens was held in April. Each of the 23 stations in urban and rural areas of the county was visited and a design was developed to meet their individual needs. Volunteers planted all the gardens. All items were donated and 406 volunteers donated some 2,113 hours of their time. To find out more, email John Giedraitis at jpg@tfs.tamu.edu and visit http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/. |
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