Effort to Expand Urban Tree Canopy Underway in Providence

Providence -- Groundwork Rhode Island and the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program, joined by Mayor Jorge Elorza and volunteers from Bank of America, planted 50 trees in South Providence on Saturday, October 26 as part of an effort to expand the tree canopy in urban settings and fortify neighborhoods against environmental challenges.

As the climate changes, cities increasingly face more frequent and intense environmental disturbances, including heatwaves, flooding, extreme storms and poor air quality. There’s a natural solution to these challenges: urban trees.

“Urban trees have been linked to numerous benefits, including cooler cities and reduced energy costs, improved air and water quality, higher property values and better health outcomes. Bank of America is working to bring these benefits to more communities,” said Bill Hatfield, Rhode Island Market President for Bank of America.

Providence is one of four cities benefiting from a $250,000 grant from Bank of America to expand the urban tree canopy. The others are Tucson, Ariz; Kansas City, Mo, and Norfolk, Va. Groundwork Rhode Island is the bank’s local partner on the project.

Groundwork RI partnered with the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program (PNPP) to organize the volunteer tree planting, which happened earlier this morning around Mary Fogarty Elementary School on Oxford Street in South Providence. Rhode Island-based Bank of America employees volunteered their time, along with local community residents.

"As mayor, one of my main focuses is creating stronger, more vibrant and healthy neighborhoods and a sure way to do this is by investing in green spaces throughout the City," said Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. "By working with Bank of America, Groundwork Rhode Island, the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program, and other community partners, we're improving our residents' quality of life while strengthening our City against the threats of climate change."

“We are excited to receive new resources for Providence to support the growth of our tree canopy, and fund innovative stormwater management projects that will improve water quality, reduce flooding, and decrease urban heat impacts in some of our neighborhoods with the lowest tree canopy,” said Doug Still, City Forester.

“The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program is happy to be working together with Groundwork RI, the City of Providence, Bank of America, and the Arbor Day Foundation, to plant trees in our lowest-canopy neighborhoods, said Cassie Tharinger, PNPP’s Executive Director. "Outside funding and volunteer support allow us to do proactive outreach and generate community interest in street tree plantings and green infrastructure--instead of waiting for residents to come to us."

In addition to Saturday’s event, Groundwork RI will utilize the grant funds to install ten right-of-way bioswales this fall, primarily in South Providence, Washington Park, and streets leading into Roger Williams Park where significant nature-based stormwater investments are being made in order to protect the park pond system from polluted runoff. Water pollution and flooding due to stormwater are significant challenges in the region, particularly in light of increased frequency and intensity of storms brought about by climate change. The new green infrastructure features will better protect Providence residents against these impacts.

Each bioswale will result in the removal of pavement and compacted soil in between the sidewalk and curb, while a mix of rocks, soil, and plants will be installed in their place. A piece of the curb itself will be cut out in front of the bioswale to allow stormwater from the street to enter the bioswale and maximize the amount of water each pit can absorb. Groundwork RI’s adult job training students and GroundCorp landscape staff will conduct these green infrastructure installations.

“Groundwork RI is committed to meeting the dual needs of urban communities through all of programs – furthering environmental sustainability and creating economic opportunity through our job training and employment programs for local residents,” said Amelia Rose, GWRI’s Executive Director. “We are extremely grateful to Bank of America and the Arbor Day Foundation for providing resources to plant trees particularly benefiting Providence schoolchildren as well as showcasing innovative approaches to manage stormwater. Stormwater management is one avenue to create new jobs that can be filled by residents in the very communities that are most impacted by climate change.”

Groundwork RI’s innovative project is part of a statewide campaign called Nature At Work, led by the RI Green Infrastructure Coalition, to educate the public through demonstration projects about the need for more green space in order to foster greater climate resiliency in our urban neighborhoods, reduce heat island impacts in the city, and absorb stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and water pollution.