February 11, 2009
Contact: Paige Heydon-McCrary
303-722-6262
THE PARK PEOPLE’S ANNUAL DENVER DIGS TREES DISTRIBUTION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Applications for Street Trees Due March 16
DENVER – Snow may still be on the ground, but spring is coming. In preparation for planting season, The Park People is now accepting applications for its annual Denver Digs Trees street tree program. Denver residents who have room to add a street tree must submit a tree request by March 16. Trees are just $25, or free for homeowners in 21 target neighborhoods. The trees will be distributed on Saturday, April 18.
“Our Denver Digs Trees program is a time-honored tradition in Denver, and, as The Park People celebrates our 40th birthday this year, the program holds even more significance,” says Paige Heydon-McCrary, executive director of The Park People. “Annually, we distribute between 1,200-1,600 street trees throughout Denver. We have enhanced the city’s urban forest by adding more than 35,000 street trees, with hundreds more sold each year at our Earth Day tree sale.”
Street trees for Denver residents are $25 each, or free for residents who live in one of the 21 targeted neighborhoods, which have the lowest tree canopy coverage citywide: Baker, Barnum, Barnum West, Chaffee Park, Clayton, Cole, Elyria/Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, Northeast Park Hill, Ruby Hill, Skyland, Sunnyside, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood, and Whittier
“Thanks to our dedicated sponsors, we are able to offer free or discounted trees that truly make a difference in those neighborhoods with low tree canopy coverage,” says Heydon-McCrary.
“Additionally, for those outside the target areas, the $25 fee we request is a fraction of retail prices and accounts for less than one-fifth of the cost to provide each tree,” she adds. Tree request forms are available at www.theparkpeople.org, by calling 303-722-6262, or by sending an e-mail to info@theparkpeople.org.
Available tree varieties include Bur Oak, Corinthian Linden, Green Mountain Sugar Maple, Magyar Ginkgo Biloba, Regent Japanese Pagoda Tree, Turkish Filbert, Green Vase Zelkova, Kentucky Coffee Tree and more. All have been selected for their adaptability to Denver’s climate, and will be distributed at six convenient sites. The Earth Day yard tree sale will be held on Saturday, April 19, at the Washington Park site for those wishing to plant trees on private property. Additional tree varieties will be available.
Denver Digs Trees involves hundreds of dedicated community members who contribute thousands of hours to ensure the success of the program. Volunteers are still needed. Visit the web site or call the office for more information.
“We are a small but effective non-profit,” says Heydon-McCrary. “We rely on volunteers to help us ensure that Denver’s neighborhoods are green, beautiful and thriving.”
The Park People is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, enhancing and advocating for Denver’s parks, recreation resources, open space and urban forest.
The Denver Digs Trees program is a collaboration of The Park People and Denver Forestry Department. Program supporters include the City’s Division of Business and Housing Services, Esurance, the Colorado Garden Show, Energy Outreach Colorado, and Xcel Energy Foundation.
Filed under: Environmental Impact, Get Involved, Long-Term Planning, Residential Living Tagged: | denver digs trees, tree distribution, trees
