Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – More than 100 trees have been planted on the city’s northeast section to help build a tree canopy. The city utilized a $24,750 matching grant to specifically plant trees within the right-of-way areas.

The initiative was funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region and administered by The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Region Trees Initiative. The new trees help address the loss of trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer. The project is designed to tackle tree inequity, reduce the urban heat island effect and improve air quality by removing pollutants.

City Arborist Brad Hamel emphasized the importance of targeting neighborhoods with fewer trees and selecting species appropriate for the narrow spaces. The increased number of trees, made possible by matching the grant funds, includes a focus on biodiversity to ensure resilience against pests and diseases. The planting efforts are concentrated in areas like the Northgate neighborhood.