$100,000 Given for Trees
Submitted by BridgetB on May 6, 2021 - 12:34pm
Below is the speech that Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin gave to attendees at a celelbration on Arbor Day, 2021:
"It’s a pleasure to be here with you to celebrate Arbor Day 2021 in the Tree City of Urbana, Illinois with a very special announcement. The City of Urbana has received donation of $98,650.00 for tree planting in the public right-of-way. The generous and public-spirited donor wishes to remain anonymous.
They have asked that the donation be used to plant trees specifically in the Community Development Target areas and in the Illinois Solar for all Environmental Justice neighborhoods. These are neighborhoods with lower incomes and/or higher numbers of minority residents.
We estimate that this donation can fund the planting of at least 200 additional street trees over the next three years. These trees are part of our essential infrastructure, just like sidewalks, streets, and sewers. Our urban forest infrastructure must be maintained and we must invest more in its care.
