Rhode Island celebrated its 129th Arbor Day on Friday with the announcement of nearly $200,000 in grants to plant trees and strengthen urban forests across the state.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management unveiled the awards at Samuel Slater Memorial Park, where Director Terry Gray was joined by the department’s Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment, Rhode Island Tree Council Technical Director John Campanini and Pawtucket city staff.
In total, 11 projects will share $199,600 through two programs: the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and the Tree Equity RI Grant Program, funded by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
“Expanding tree cover to our urban areas not only beautifies our neighborhoods and improves air quality, but also provides vital shade, helps cool neighborhoods, and plays a key role in mitigating stormwater and flooding,” Gray said. He added that DEM’s new tree donation program allows residents to fund a tree planting in certain state parks as a tribute to a loved one or a meaningful occasion.
Gov. Dan McKee said trees are “critical urban infrastructure” essential to public health, and that federal funding has allowed the state to prioritize communities with the least access to the environmental and economic benefits of a healthy tree canopy.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he continues to push for increased federal investment in urban forestry. “Planting new trees and growing our green infrastructure helps reduce pollution and increase shade while creating a host of economic, environmental, and health benefits for communities across the state,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said urban tree investments, which he said have been targeted by the Trump administration, bring “cleaner air, summer shade, and more flood-resilient neighborhoods.”
The Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program is distributing $49,600 among seven recipients. The City of East Providence will receive $10,000 to develop an urban forest management plan, and Groundwork RI will receive $10,000 for green team educational programming. The Newport Tree Conservancy was awarded $10,000 for its Green Education for Newport program, and the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program will receive $10,000 for a community forest training program. The Town of North Kingstown will receive $1,000 for tree care outreach, the Town of North Providence will receive $4,600 to develop its municipal forestry program, and the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council will receive $5,000 for tree pruning and risk assessment training.
The Tree Equity RI Grant Program, which directs funding to neighborhoods identified through American Forests’ Tree Equity Score Analyzer, is awarding $150,000 across four projects. The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program will receive $50,000 for plantings at the Narducci Learning Center, the Paul Cuffee Lower School and surrounding neighborhoods. The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council will also receive $50,000 for plantings at Providence Housing Authority sites in central Providence, in partnership with the Nuestros Bosques Tree Rangers and River Rangers. Groundwork RI will receive $30,000 to plant a microforest in lower South Providence, and the Town of North Providence will receive $20,000 for plantings throughout the Marieville neighborhood.
Residents can also mark Arbor Day by donating a tree through DEM’s Donation Tree Program, which supports plantings at Colt State Park in Bristol, Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick and Fort Adams State Park in Newport. The first round of donated trees will be planted this spring at Goddard and Colt. More information is available at riparks.ri.gov/donation-tree.
Additional details on DEM programs can be found at www.dem.ri.gov.
