The online tool features a community engagement map to view Everett’s tree inventory, information about how to request a free tree and more
Everett, MA – Mayor Carlo DeMaria is pleased to announce the City of Everett has launched a new online page on the City of Everett website for residents to request free tree plantings, view Everett’s tree inventory, submit reports for tree maintenance and learn more about the importance of trees in decreasing the Urban Heat Island Effect, which is the increased and excess heat that is experienced by urban cities.
Residents are able to request free tree plantings for their properties through the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Greening the Gateway Cities Program (GGCP). This program targets concentrated environmental justice neighborhoods and areas within gateway cities with lower tree canopy, older housing stock, higher wind speeds, and a larger renter population. More information on how you can plant a free tree on your property is available on the City of Everett’s website by visiting cityofeverett.com/city-hall/departments/planning-development/everetts-urban-tree-canopy or you can directly visit maurbancanopy.org.
“Planting more trees will address both environmental and public health needs in our city, and we are asking residents to join us in this effort,” said Mayor DeMaria. “We wanted to ensure all of the information about the Greening the Gateway Cities Program and the benefits of planting trees in our community is accessible to residents at any time on our website.”
The City of Everett, which was recently named a 2022 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation and has been an Urban Tree City for 15 years, plans to continue this year’s goal of planting 600 trees and is asking residents to suggest where they would like the City to consider planting trees throughout the City. Residents can also report if a tree is in need of maintenance or report a concern about an existing tree through the online tree maintenance/request form located on the page.
Those who are interested can also learn more details about Everett’s existing trees, such as species, size and ecosystem benefits with the TreePlotter Community Engagement Map. The map is easy to use and provides a visual representation with information on Everett’s over 7,000 trees that are located throughout the City.
The launch of this page continues the City’s partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to increase Everett’s urban tree canopy. Earlier in the year, the City of Everett and DCR planted two Dutch Elm trees in front of the old Everett High School in recognition of Arbor Day – which celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees – and to help promote the GGCP.
For more information, please go to the online page on the City of Everett website by visiting cityofeverett.com/city-hall/departments/planning-development/everetts-urban-tree-canopy.