Parks Department awarded TD Green Streets Urban Forestry Grant

TD Bank and the Arbor Day Foundation announced that the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will receive a $20,000 TD Green Streets grant that will be used to increase the tree canopy in dense urban neighborhoods of Boston while also increasing resident access to natural spaces.

Boston was one of 10 cities that received grants of up to $20,000 from TD Green Streets this year for innovative urban greening and tree-planting projects in low- to moderate-income areas.

Through this project, BPRD will work with the Charles River Watershed Association, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the Charles River and its watershed, and the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation, which hires a seasonal Green Team youth conservation corps, to host ecology-based workshops and trainings and enhance access to and appreciation for Sherrin Woods Urban Wild, a large 24-acre natural area located in the diverse, inner-city Environmental Justice community of Hyde Park.

“We welcome this partnership as an opportunity to further our own plans to make Boston an even greener and healthier city,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh.  “The TD Green Streets grant will be put to good use at Sherrin Woods, which provides residents with significant open space perfect for walks and observing nature.”

A public event will be held at Sherrin Woods on Friday, July 27, at 10 a.m. to celebrate the project which, in addition to environmental workshops, includes planting 10 new street trees along Hyde Park Avenue. An additional 83 saplings will be planted within Sherrin Woods itself to restore native species and increase tree biodiversity.

"TD Bank is committed to enhancing urban tree canopies and green space as part of our vision to support the transition to a low-carbon economy and nurture sustainability in the communities we serve," said Joseph Doolan, TD Bank's Head of Environmental Affairs. "Through our longstanding partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, we are supporting innovative community programs that do more than beautify underserved urban neighborhoods – trees improve air quality, capture carbon emissions, and enhance the quality of life."

TD Bank provides the funding for the grants, which are awarded annually for tree planting, maintenance costs and educational activities, and the Arbor Day Foundation administers the program. TD Green Streets is a component of TD Forests, a North American initiative aimed at growing urban forests, protecting critical forest habitats and encouraging responsible use of forest products.

“We're excited to partner with TD Bank to support 10 cities that are deeply committed to urban forestry, which produces clear benefits for our communities and the environment,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

To be eligible for a grant, qualified municipalities must be current Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA®-designated communities within TD Bank's U.S. footprint, with the submitted project occurring in a low- to-moderate income area of the local community. Tree City USA is the nation's premier urban and community forestry program, providing a foundation for effective, well-organized community tree care.

Additional cities receiving 2018 TD Green Streets grants are: Myrtle Beach, SC; Clinton, SC; Providence, RI; Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY; Plainfield, NJ; Clifton, NJ; Oakland Park, FL; and Delray Beach, FL.

For more information, visit the TD Green Sheets website.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at on the Arbor Day website.

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