September 27, 2023- The City of Decatur and the Decatur Park District were awarded a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The federal grant will support the “21st Century Decatur’s Urban Forests Project.” The City and Park District jointly filed the grant application and were awarded the full amount requested. The five-year project will invest $150,000 in urban forestry projects each year in Decatur, increasing the existing tree inventory of both entities by planting hundreds of additional trees each year.
Tree planting will occur in locations deemed to have the greatest impact on growing the urban tree canopy and benefiting the highest number of underserved residents. Varying tree species will be planted primarily in public properties owned by both agencies, but also in privately-owned properties in the urban core, and other private properties where owners consent to tree plantings and where the City and/or Park District determine these sites are part of a conservation and tree preservation area.
The City and Park District plan on developing their own tree nurseries to continue urban forestry efforts beyond the life of this five-year grant. Richland Community College and Workforce Investment Solutions will also assist in developing training programs for future arborists to be employed in projects such as this.
Decatur has been proudly designated a “Tree City USA” for 42 years and the award of this grant reflects the city’s commitment to increase the tree canopy in Decatur.
