Urban and Community Forestry Grant Keeps WPB Tree Program Growing

May 11, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 Contact:                
Diane G. Papadakos, Director of Communications
City of West Palm Beach – Mayor’s Office
dpapadakos@wpb.org
561-822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)

Urban and Community Forestry Grant Keeps WPB Tree Program Growing
The award from the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program affords the opportunity for the City of West Palm Beach to build upon its 31-year Tree City USA Certification.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The City of West Palm Beach is again the proud recipient of a grant from the Urban and Community Forestry Program. The grant was utilized to evaluate the overall health of the City’s urban forest. The USDA Forest Service provided funding for this project through the Florida Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program. The Program supports the development of a comprehensive tree inventory. It complements the City’s previous work in developing an Urban Tree Management Plan and a City-wide tree canopy assessment. The City’s trees require regular maintenance to remain safe, healthy, and functional. A healthy tree canopy contributes to the City’s goals of reducing greenhouse gases, decreasing stormwater runoff, creating attractive public spaces, as well as improving mobility and connectivity by making a more walkable and bikeable City.

The City’s tree care program is an effort by the Office of Sustainability, the Park and Recreation Department, and the Planning and Zoning Department, as well as several other entities, to plan, maintain, and preserve the urban forest within the City of West Palm Beach.

The grant affords the opportunity for the City to build upon its 31-year Tree City USA Certification by allowing staff to take an in-depth inventory of the trees on City property, with a focus on public space and city parks. In doing so, staff measured the individual characteristics of each tree, took photographs, and recorded health concerns of trees which may require additional follow-up.

The further development of the tree inventory allows the City of West Palm Beach to make better-informed decisions regarding the need for investments in the urban forest. The project allows the City to plan for tree-related hazards before they require an emergency response, cause damage to structures, or contribute significantly to storm debris volume. As a result of this work, the City of West Palm Beach can better address concerns, allocate appropriate funds for issues needing immediate attention, improve tree health, and plan to promote more tree diversity throughout the City.

To contact the City of West Palm Beach Office of Sustainability, please dial (561) 804-4993 (TTY 800-955- 8771) or email sustainability@wpb.org. For information about the Office of Sustainability, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/government/sustainability. 

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About the City of West Palm Beach:

The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic City located on the Atlantic coast of Florida. With a rich history, a thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region, and the central City of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing, waterfront City that offers the business advantages available in the region, combined with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit us on our official website, or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or Linked-in.