The city is moving forward in its efforts to replace the
hundreds of trees lost to the emerald ash borer by applying for grants and
asking for citizen involvement.
Ypsilanti lost all of its ash trees along its public right
of ways and parks, leaving a long list of residents asking for replacements and
few resources for new plantings. To help start replacing the trees, the city is
applying for a $6,000 DTE Energy grant to buy and plant 24 trees throughout
Ypsilanti this year. The grant would call for $3,000 from DTE and a $3,000
match from the city.
The species of trees will be diverse to protect
neighborhoods from future losses due to population-specific diseases. All newly
planted trees will be monitored by the city to determine their condition and
care needs.
The city is also looking for volunteers to help maintain new
trees through their first three years to make sure they take root and grow. The
program will be modeled after the city’s Adopt A Street program.
City officials said trees help improve air and soil quality,
provide shelter for wildlife, beautify neighborhoods, increase property values
and contribute to a general sense of well being in the community.
For information on removing and replacing dead emerald ash
borer trees, call (734) 483-1100.
Source: City of
Ypsilanti.