Free Trees for Philly Residents
Who doesn’t love trees? Not to sound completely hippy-dippy, but trees are our friends. They provide us with shade, they purify the air, and they give our homes an irreplaceable lived-in feeling that beautifies our neighborhood as well. The city of Philadelphia is on a mission to increase tree canopy coverage of Philly neighborhoods, and so, to that end, they are running a program that provides free trees to residents.
Free trees will be available to Philadelphia residents looking to spruce up their yards or help with canopy coverage.
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, along with partners at the Fairmount Park Conservancy and TD Bank announced on Monday that registration is now open for the Spring 2018 TreePhilly Yard Tree Giveaways. Have you been thinking about planting a tree in your yard, either to commemorate a member of the family or because you simply think it makes the street look prettier? Has cost been a factor in your not planting the tree yet? If so, this is the perfect opportunity for you.
Under former mayor Michael Nutter’s Greenworks initiative, which aims to have 30 percent tree coverage in Philadelphia residential neighborhoods, TreePhilly was established to give free trees to homeowners in the City of Brotherly Love. Since its inception in 2015, TreePhilly has given away 19,000 trees during registration periods each spring and fall.
“Increasing Philadelphia’s tree canopy is essential to increasing the quality of our neighborhoods,” current Mayor Kenney said in a release, carrying the mantle of his predecessor. “Which is why I am inviting Philadelphia homeowners to help us improve our city’s air and water quality by planting a free TreePhilly yard tree on their property. We cannot reach our goals of increasing the tree canopy in all our neighborhoods without their help.”
The trees are meant to be planted on private property only, and the list of trees available for planting is long and includes
large shade trees, small flowering trees, and fruit trees.
As per Philadelphia Magazine: “Interested residents are encouraged to pre-register to pick up their free yard tree at the TreePhilly signature giveaway event at the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center (700 Cobbs Creek Parkway) on April 14th.”
