|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Jen Kullgren, Environment and Energy, (612) 596-1175
Angie Timmons, Environment and Energy, (612) 348-2477
The board awarded 26 grants that will not only invest in the county's tree canopy, but also the health and economic vitality of communities.
Areas with lower tree canopy cover tend to have starker disparities in air quality, health, income and housing.
Without proactive efforts, the emerald ash borer is likely to worsen these inequities. The invasive tree pest is projected to kill all of the 1 million ash trees in Hennepin County, which make up 15 percent of the tree canopy.
How trees can help reduce disparities
Trees provide many benefits to communities, including:
-
Energy savings and cooling: Trees provide shade to cool our streets, sidewalks and buildings, reducing health impacts from heat waves and reducing energy use.
-
Increased air and water quality: Trees clean our air, reducing health issues like asthma and cardiovascular problems. Trees also capture and filter storm water.
-
Improved health: Trees decrease mental stress and encourage walking.
These benefits are not shared equally across neighborhoods, since many lower-income neighborhoods have fewer trees. Reducing these gaps will help reduce disparities.
Grant recipients
The county prioritized areas with lower tree canopy and higher disparities when awarding grants.
Cities
The following cities will receive funding to start or complete an inventory of public trees, a step that can help with tree planning, planting, removal and maintenance.
- Hopkins, $5,000
- Orono, $5,000
- Osseo, $4,000
- St. Bonifacius, $3,750
- Tonka Bay, $2,000
The following cities with existing tree inventory data will receive funding to improve their tree canopies.
- Brooklyn Park, $33,462
- Champlin, $9,996
- Eden Prairie, $30,517
- Robbinsdale, $14,000
Affordable housing
Organizations will use funding to plant trees on their property and proactively manage ash trees.
- City of Edina, $12,400
- City of Lakes Community Land Trust (Minneapolis), $19,200
- Newport Midwest - The Mariner (Minnetonka), $20,000
- RLBC Franklin Station, LLC on behalf of Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (South Minneapolis), $20,000
- Twin Cities Housing Development Corporation (South Minneapolis), $20,000
Schools and non-profits
These organizations will engage youth in tree planting events.
- Lucy Craft Laney School (Minneapolis), $4,994
- Orono High School, $2,500
- Prairie Seeds Academy (Brooklyn Park), $2,105
- Richfield Public School District, $4,766
- Saint John the Baptist Catholic Montessori School (Excelsior), $1,880
- School of Engineering and Arts (Golden Valley), $4,510
- Success Academy (Bloomington), $4,952
- SPARK-Y (Minneapolis), $1,612
- Tree Trust/FAIR Pilgrim Lane School (Plymouth), $5,000
- Weaver Lake Elementary (Maple Grove), $2,599
- Whittier International Elementary (Minneapolis), $3,900
- YMCA Camp Christmas Tree (Minnetrista), $5,000
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
|
