DCNR Announces TreeVitalize Grants To 24 Communities, 4 Organizations

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, in partnership with the PA Urban and Community Forestry Council, Monday announced grant funding for 28 TreeVitalize tree planting, community forestry and urban riparian buffer projects throughout the state in 2018.

“TreeVitalize efforts continue to grow since the program first was launched on Arbor Day 2004 in Philadelphia, with more than 350,000 shade trees planted in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other cities and communities,” Dunn said. “These grants announced today extend benefits to be enjoyed by residents across the state.

TreeVitalize is a public-private partnership established by DCNR to help build capacity within communities to plan for, plant, and care for trees.

Educational training also is offered to help citizens understand the diverse benefits of trees and the importance of properly planting and maintaining them.

Grant amounts range from $1,575 to $17,180, with a total of $196,643 provided for more than 1,100 trees to be planted.  

Funds will provide opportunities for municipalities and nonprofit organizations to create more sustainable community and urban foresting networks through coordinated tree plantings, volunteer engagements and municipal support.

Tree Planting Grants

Receiving 2018 tree planting grants are:  Butler Township, Butler County, $4,200; Chambersburg Borough, Franklin County, $1,950; PennFuture, $14,425; Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County, $2,480; Connellsville, Fayette County, $2,400; Cranberry Township, Butler County, $3,967; Derry Township, Dauphin County, $6,375; Friends of Midtown Harrisburg, $1,575; Harborcreek, Erie County, $8,850; City of Lancaster, Lancaster County; $15,000; Latrobe, Westmoreland County; $2,326; Muncy Borough, Lycoming County, $2,200; Philipsburg Township, Centre County; $1,800; City of Sharon, Mercer County; $2,300; Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, $2,935; Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, $6,482; Upper Macungie, Lehigh County; $5,000; and Wilson Borough, Northampton County, $14,400.

Community Forestry Grants

Recipients of community forestry grants, accentuating the value of local woodland tracts, are: Abington Township, Montgomery County; $8,130; Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, $5,000; Milford, Pike County, $5,000; New Kensington, Westmoreland County, $5,000; and Wellsboro, Tioga County, $10,617,

Urban Riparian Buffer Grants

Urban riparian buffer grants, an extension of the statewide buffer planting under way and designed to protect city and community waterways, are awarded to: Awbury Arboretum, Philadelphia, $17,180; Denver Borough, Lancaster County, $8,850; Middletown Township, Bucks County, $12,500; Mifflinburg, Union County, $15,699; and Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, $10,000.

TreeVitalize is a public/private partnership between DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry and the PA Urban and Community Forestry Council to restore tree cover in Pennsylvania communities, while offering a broad range of services to support sustainable urban and community forestry programs across the state.

For more information, visit the DCNR TreeVitalize webpage.  Information on community forestry is available at the PA Urban and Community Forestry Council website.