THE LEAFLET

Last weekend, volunteers and community members joined us for a community tree planting in Glenncrest, a residential area of Ward 7 that includes a shared green space accessible and visible from Benning Road. Trees planted in this area will provide shade, wildlife habitat, fresh air, stormwater mitigation, communal gathering areas, and beauty for the green space for years to come.

It was a great day to plant trees, and even steady rain wouldn’t deter those who came out to help. In total, 42 trees were planted in the shared green space – part of the 111 trees total that were planted throughout the Glenncrest community as part of a larger planting project. Other trees were planted in a section that covered a hillside slope to help with erosion prevention, while another section featured wet-foot trees in areas of heavy water flow to intercept stormwater when it rains.

Dana Gresham, Urban Forester manning the project with Casey Trees was able to share, “The Glenncrest Community is a neighborhood in Ward 7 made up of about 200 residential units. These are a mix of privately owned homes and apartments for rent under the management of the Glenncrest Residents Association (GRA). The GRA leadership have been absolutely fantastic partners who really go the extra mile for the residents, coordinating all of these projects to support the community”.

The project was supported through a TD Green Space Grant from the Arbor Day Foundation. Funded by TD Bank Group, the grant supports innovative urban greening and tree planting projects in pursuit of environmental equity. With heat waves becoming more frequent, vulnerable populations need sufficient tree canopy and dedicated green space to curb the impact of the urban heat island effect and increase climate resiliency throughout their neighborhoods. Casey Trees and Washington, DC was one of 22 US and Canadian cities selected to receive a grant.

“As we continue to experience these increasingly frequent and prolonged periods of extreme heat, planting trees to provide shade and cooling has become a necessity for our most vulnerable communities,” said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive at the Arbor Day Foundation. “We are excited to help support Casey Trees in their efforts to equip neighborhoods with the right trees to lead to a more sustainable future.”

Said Shelley Sylva, Head of U.S. Corporate Citizenship at TD Bank: “We are proud to continue our support of the Arbor Day Foundation as they work to expand tree canopies and increase the number of green spaces in our local communities. A healthy environment is foundational to feeling confident about our future and the world we are leaving to the next generation. This important work will elevate the quality of the environment while providing a place for neighbors to connect with nature and with each other”.

Ron Rogers, Glenncrest Residents Association Board Member and community liaison for the planting project, summed up what the newly planted trees meant to the community: “Addressing the disparity in tree canopy, environment, and air quality in low income neighborhoods and communities of color are few aspects of this project that are very meaningful to me. Many times the residents of Ward 7 feel that they are overlooked or the last to receive support for projects that are sometimes seen as only aesthetics or not critical. Casey Tree’s support in making this planting happen has given the community new hope and inspiration to pursue additional opportunities to improve our environment!” Scroll down to see some photos from the day of planting.