Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Jan. 19.
The City of Dublin was recently awarded a grant from the Georgia Tree Council under their 2021 Georgia Releaf Grant program. The Georgia ReLeaf Program funding is available to support tree planting projects through Georgia Tree Council's Georgia ReLeaf program. Eligible projects must fall into one of three categories: 1) Tree planting on public property to replace canopy lost to storms, 2) Tree planting projects that honor or benefit military veterans, or 3) Tree planting projects that contribute to tree equity in under-resourced communities.
Applied for with the assistance of the City of Dublin Tree Board and City of Dublin Public Works, the grant will install nineteen native species trees at Stubbs Park as well as irrigation. Nonnative Bradford Pear trees that have reached the end of their lifecycle will be removed as part of the grant.
“Trees bring a host of benefits to communities, such as clean air, cooling shade, and stormwater retention, and we congratulate the City of Dublin for taking the steps to make sure its citizens have a healthy tree canopy. The Georgia Tree Council is pleased to support this tree planting project,” says Mary Lynne Beckley, Executive Director.
The Stubbs Park Tree Project seeks to enhance residents' quality of life by bringing more tree equity to three neighborhoods near downtown Dublin. As opportunity zones, these neighborhoods have experienced substantial tree loss in recent years. Planting trees and installing irrigation will help alleviate the tree disparity in the area.
“The City of Dublin is grateful for the opportunity for funding through the Georgia Releaf Grant Program. This is one way the City is working to improve neighborhood parks for our citizens. Parks are a vital part of our way of life and the wellbeing of our community. With planting these trees in Stubbs Park, we place one piece towards completing the puzzle of revitalizing this historic park,” explains Joshua Powell Dublin City Manager.
“Stubbs Park is truly a treasure for the citizens of Dublin. Working with the tree board and City staff on implementing this ReLeaf grant, provided by the partnership of the Georgia Forestry Commission and Georgia Tree Council, has been a pleasure,” said Robert Seamans, Urban and Community Forestry Program Community Forestry Specialist, Georgia Forestry Commission.
The Georgia Tree Council was established in 1988 as the Georgia Urban Forest Council by a group of visionary citizens who saw the need to address urban forestry issues in the state of Georgia. The Tree Council partners with the Georgia Forestry Commission on many educational programs, as well as Five Year Plans for Georgia’s Urban Forestry Community. Georgia Tree Council gives members and supporters opportunities for networking in their fields and for gaining leadership skills in addressing the challenges in their own urban forests. All of Georgia Tree Council's educational programs offer continuing education units and opportunities for professional development. It also strives to help other nonprofits and volunteer tree boards in their efforts to improve their community forests.
“Trees are such a vital part of our community’s infrastructure. I am so thrilled to be part of such a momentous project such as the Stubbs Park Tree Project. I’m grateful to the Georgia Tree Council for helping fund the first of many tree plantings in the City of Dublin,” said Shawn Wood, Director of Public Works.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce
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