City of Ottawa issued the following announcement on June 11.
City of Ottawa Receives Urban and Community Forestry Grant
City of Ottawa is among 20 Illinois communities awarded grants administered by The Morton Arboretum in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to help improve Illinois urban forestry.
The $22,500.00 Urban and Community Forestry Grant will enable the City of Ottawa to replace our urban tree canopy devastated by the emerald ash borer and the 2017 tornado that ripped through the south side.
“We are excited to continue the replacement of the trees lost throughout the last several years. Preserving and protecting our green infrastructure is a priority for the City of Ottawa. Tree planting keeps the City vibrant and beautiful for the residents and visitors” stated Marla Rodriguez, Commissioner of Public Improvements.
Starting Thursday, June 11 Gardens Gate Center and Landscaping will be planting 45 trees within the right-of-way mainly focusing on Adams Street and the 500 blocks of Marcy, Guthrie, Cornell, Chestnut and Christie. In addition, there will be a few other areas. These areas continue the replanting efforts from previous tree grants received from The Morton Arboretum/IDNR and Trees Forever.
The 2019 / 2020 Urban and Community Forestry Grant program is made possible by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the USDA Forest Service to meet urban and community forestry goals throughout Illinois. The matching grants provide opportunities for public entities (municipalities, park districts, forest preserves etc.) to support any combination of tree planting, developing a management plan, completing a tree inventory, or developing a tree preservation / protection ordinance. Grantees are required to update their ordinances or pass new ones to meet required standards. The Morton Arboretum provides free assistance to ensure that communities are able to meet the requirements.
The grants were awarded through a competitive process, with over $217,000 in available funds distributed evenly north and south of highway I-80, and communities competing in their own geographic areas. City of Ottawa is required to match the grant funding, either financially or in-kind.
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized outdoor tree museum and tree research center located in Lisle, Illinois. As the champion of trees, the Arboretum is committed to scientifically-informed action, both locally and globally, and encouraging the planting and conservation of trees for a greener, healthier, more beautiful world. On 1,700 acres are 222,000 plant specimens representing 4,650 different kinds of plants, along with specialty gardens, educational exhibits, the award-winning Children’s Garden,16 miles of hiking trails and the Visitor Center, featuring The Arboretum Store and the Ginkgo Restaurant and Café. The Morton Arboretum is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, welcoming 1.2 million visitors annually and serving 54,000 member households. Learn more at mortonarb.org.
For questions please contact Tami Koppen, City of Ottawa by email: tkoppen@cityofottawa.org or leave a message at 815-433-0161 ext. 240.
Original source can be found here.
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