The program offers Richardson residents free trees and tree care information following damage to the city’s tree canopy during a storm last May, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Shohn Rodgers said during the March 24 meeting.
The overview
Following the May storm, Rodgers said staff set a goal of giving away 1,000 trees and planting 100 trees in city parks. Over 500 peach trees, desert willows and chinkapin oaks have been distributed at various community events.
“[The program] has gotten a lot of support from the community,” Rodgers said. “It was a really good way to spread the joy of trees.”
Additional trees will be distributed to residents at 9 a.m. April 12 at Mimosa Park, located at 1200 Mimosa Drive, and at 1 p.m. April 25 at Terrace Park, located at 200 N. Lois Lane.
What else?
The Richardson Rotary Club and a local group called One Earth One Chance sponsored the program, Rodgers said, providing funding and volunteers to help replant trees in parks.
Additionally, Rodgers said 42 trees were planted in various parks over the fall with 18 planted at Glenville Park, eight at Foxboro Park, five at Woodhaven Grove Park and Heights Park, four at Prairie Creek Park and two on Main Street.
A goal of 59 trees has been set for spring with 14 trees to be planted along Main Street, 10 at Breckinridge Park, Terrace Park and Mimosa Park and five at Berkner Park, Cottonwood Park and Huffhines Park.
Also of note
Rodgers said tree plantings began March 17 on Renner Road to replace trees removed for work to a waterline.
In total, 40 trees were removed and 122 trees will be replanted with 72 trees planned for the median and 50 in the surrounding areas.
Ornamental trees were selected for the median, Rodgers said, because of their smaller root system, less conflict with traffic and lower impact to utilities.
One last thing
Richardson was recognized as a Tree City USA through the Arbor Day Foundation on March 10.
“That is a real feather in our cap and I am just over the moon,” Rodgers said. “This is something a lot of surrounding communities have and we really belong there.”
To be recognized, a city must:
- Maintain a tree board or department
- Have a community tree ordinance
- Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry
- Celebrate Arbor Day
