By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” planted eight, eight- to ten-foot-tall trees in front of homes in the Godfrey-Lee neighborhood of Wyoming on Oct. 8.
The oaks, Japanese lilacs, honey locusts are another small step in increasing the tree canopy within a neighborhood where too many mature trees have been lost to disease, storms, and development.This is the third planting that The Tree Amigos have completed in Godfrey-Lee, bringing the total to 35 trees planted here. The project was made possible by a grant from the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance.
“Neighborhoods without good tree canopy are deprived of the health, safety, and economic benefits that well shaded streets and spaces bring to people living there,” said Estelle Slootmaker, board member of The Tree Amigos. “Cleaner air, well managed storm water, safer sidewalks, increased property values, and mental health benefits have all been documented as benefits of street trees. The Tree Amigos are doing our small part to create shade equity within our city.”
Pending additional grant funding, The Tree Amigos hope to collaborate with Godfrey-Lee Public Schools in 2023 to plant 50 trees to shade the pathways and sidewalks where the district’s students walk to school. The City of Wyoming has set aside $10,000 in matching funds, which will make the planting possible.
Donations to The City of Wyoming Tree Commission are tax deductible. Volunteers are welcome. And the board is currently seeking two more Wyoming resident tree-huggers to join as board members.
“We are a group of volunteers who love trees, want to create a healthy environment, and enjoy getting our hands dirty planting trees—not just talking about it,” Slootmaker said. “We hope to assemble a more diverse board that can fully represent, educate, and serve all of the people who live and work here.”
For more about The Tree Commission, visit the organization’s Facebook page.
