Regreen Springfield Submits Three Proposals to City for Tree Planting Funding

Regreen Springfield has recently submitted (3) proposals to the City of Springfield’s Office of Community Development Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program.  The proposals, make in partnership with the City’s Forestry Division and several neighborhood associations aims to help increase the tree canopy cover in the Memorial Square, Maple High-Six Corners and Forest Park Neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood Targeted Improvement Program aims to build capacity and encourage Neighborhood Organizations to implement projects in partnership with city departments and/or private organizations. Funds will be utilized in projects that follow Housing Urban Development(HUD) compliance guidelines. Eligible projects must benefit low/moderate income neighborhoods, make physical improvements and/or remove slum and blighted conditions. There can be no improvements on private property.

Regreen Springfield’s proposals focus on the following components and goals:

  • Community Engagement – Regreen Springfield will work with the MHSC to reach out to the resident of the neighborhood to solicit participation in a tree and shrub planting program that will provide aesthetic and environmental improvements to the neighborhood.
  • Resident Visits – A team of trained staff from Regreen Springfield will visit homeowners to determine species, location and number of new trees and shrubs for each property
  • Tree and Shrub Planting Volunteer Day – In May, teams of volunteers from the community will with homeowners to plant the new plants in the locations selected via the process outlined above.
  • Tree Planting Celebration – Working with residents and volunteers, a cook out will be geld to distribute information on the value of trees and urban greening in the neighborhood.
To view the Regreen Springfield grant submittals, please use the links noted below:
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First of Two Tree Care Training Workshop Held

The first of two Tree Care Workshops was held at Springfield Technical Community College, on January 23, 2014.  Thirty-eight attendees participated in this session, which introduced urban forest concepts to the audience, as well as planting, pruning and tree growth components.  The three-hour session is part of an effort to enlist and train volunteer ‘Orchard Tenders’, who will help to care for the two newly established fruit tree orchards in the city.  For more information on how you can join this effort, please Click Here.

 

 

Posted in East Forest Park, Forest Park, Home, McKnight, NEWS, Old Hill, Six Corners, Sixteen Acres, South End, Uncategorized, Upper Hill | Leave a comment

2013 Photo Contest Winners

The 2013 Regreen Springfield Photo Contest has just concluded, and the best of the images of trees growing in Springfield have been posted online.

This year’s Grand Prize photo was submitted by Kyle Richmond-Crosset, who took a black & white image of a tree growing in a community garden on Hancock Street in the Six Corners neighborhood of Springfield.  Kyle will receive a new ornamental tree next spring, to be planted in the location of his choice.

The Second Place photo was submitted by Cindy Van Wart.  The Third Place image was taken by Katie Premont.

To view the finalist’s photos, please visit http://regreenspringfield.com/2013-photo-winners/

Posted in East Forest Park, Forest Park, Home, McKnight, NEWS, Old Hill, Six Corners, Sixteen Acres, South End, Upper Hill | Leave a comment