Daily News | Philly will plant thousands of trees, hire a city forester, and tree and sidewalk inspectors
The first ever Philly Tree Plan released Thursday by Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation calls for planting thousands of trees over a decade to increase the city’s canopy to 30% — and hiring the first city forester along with support staff to ensure the trees thrive.
But its authors acknowledge that trees can cause headaches by lifting up sidewalks, clogging small streets with leaves, and requiring expensive maintenance.As a result, the plan recommends hiring a “sidewalk coordinator,” street tree inspectors, and additional parks and recreation staff to not only plant and care for trees, but to keep up with thousands of tree-related calls made each year to 311, the city’s residential service line.
Erica Smith Fichman, Parks & Rec’s community forestry manager who led the plan, said it might take some time to hire the forester, but that officials are ready to move quickly on other positions. “Healthy trees are an important part of safe, healthy, and thriving communities,” Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell said. “This plan uplifts our urban forest by properly funding the care and maintenance of the trees that line our residential streets and the public right of way.”
“Trees can be a burden on homeowners, outweighing the benefit,” the plans states, noting the city hasn’t done a great of maintaining existing trees, which grow in vacant lots and alleys, sometimes resulting in property damage and safety issues.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Heritage Foundation receives $25 million gift, among biggest in its historyThe Heritage Foundation announced Wednesday that it has received one of the largest gifts in the conservative think tank's 50-year history: a $25 million boost to ensure that America's founding values remain alive and well.
Read more »
5 must-have car accessories on sale for under $25 - AutoblogLooking to save on ice scrapers, tire pressure gauges, trunk organizers and more? Check out these 5 under-$25 deals and stock up without breaking the bank.
Read more »
As 24-hour diners dwindle in Philly, a few fight to remainHere’s where to find Philly’s remaining diners, from daytime to 24-hour spots.
Read more »
The Postal Service says it will fix Philly’s mail problems in response to auditThe audit was conducted by the USPS’s Office of Inspector General starting in October following long-standing complaints from constituents about mail delays.
Read more »
Revamping Philly’s bus system isn’t easy | Morning NewsletterDaily News | Revamping Philly’s bus system isn’t easy | Morning Newsletter
Read more »
Philly native Kevin Hart donating 5,000 sets of Fabletics scrubs to Temple HealthKevin Hart is donating 5,000 sets of Fabletics' new scrubs to Temple Health.
Read more »