One thousand trees.
That’s how many trees the city of Greenville hopes to plant with its newly launched #plantGVL campaign.
The goal to plant 1,000 trees in city parks and public right-of-ways coincides with the passing of the city’s new tree ordinance, which essentially requires developers to replace every tree they cut down.
The ordinance, which was passed on Jan. 25, will help stop the decline of Greenville’s tree canopy while ensuring that new developments have a landscape design that is aesthetic, affordable and sustainable.
According to the city, the majority of Greenville’s trees were planted in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and are aging out. A recent study by the Green Infrastructure Center found that only 36% of the city is currently under a tree canopy.
“To protect and enhance the natural environment and aesthetic beauty of our community, the city is actively working to preserve existing trees and promote and support tree-planting efforts citywide,” the city states on its website.
As part of that effort, the city will conduct an ongoing public awareness campaign — including free tree giveaways — to encourage city residents to plant trees on private property.
The most recent giveaway, held on Saturday, Jan. 30, at Cleveland Park Stables, featured redbud, shellbark hickory, scarlet oak and bald cypress saplings. Each tree came bagged with planting instructions, according to Jeff Waters, parks and grounds urban designer for the city of Greenville.
The city also plans to reintroduce native trees that have disappeared from the urban canopy, especially American beech and hickory trees, plant seedings in Cleveland, Timmons and McPherson parks to replace old-growth trees that are dying out, and plant 700 new trees at Unity Park over the next year and a half, Waters said during a recent presentation to City Council members.
For more information, visit greenvillesc.gov/744/Greenvilles-Trees.
