Communities across Pennsylvania will become a little greener this spring thanks to DCNR's TreeVitalize Program.

DCNR has announced it’s urban and community forest programs will be awarding a total of $492,220 to communities throughout the state in support of tree planting this spring.

“Beyond their many environmental benefits, trees offer so much to so many in cities and communities across the state,” said DCNR Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “TreeVitalize helps strengthen connections between people and the landscape around them. The individual act of planting a tree so often leads to a personal bond to our state’s bounty of natural resources.”

TreeVitalize is a statewide urban and community forestry program designed to increase and improve tree canopy and educate citizens. DCNR offers matching grants to communities and non-profit looking to improve and expand local tree cover.

TreeVitalize grant-round announcements are held twice per year, typically January 31 and July 31. All tree planting and inventories must be on public grounds and/or public right-of-ways.

The cities and communities receiving 2015 grants, approved amounts, and proposed new trees, are: Allentown, $14,400 (96); Easton, $9,750 (65); Lancaster, $22,500 (150); Conyngham Borough, $2,380 (16); Denver Borough, $4,671 (50); Derry Township, $11,800 (97); Harborcreek Township, $15,000 (95); Hazle Township, $2,942 (30); Newport Borough, $5,700 (38); Nicholson Borough, $1,500 (10); and Paxtang Borough, $1,577 (14).

In addition, DCNR will award $200,000 to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in support of TreeVitalize tree planting efforts in southwestern Pennsylvania, and $200,000 to Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for the southeast.

Communities in Allegheny County can request trees online.  Communities within Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties may also request trees online.

For more information, visit the TreeVitalize website or the TreeVitalize Facebook page.

(Reprinted from the April 8 DCNR Resource newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of the page).)

4/13/2015