Mayor Joseph J. Solomon officially launched a tree planting program last week in Conimicut Village. Solomon was on-site as the first of 50 new trees was planted.

 The program’s goal is to increase the tree canopy that has been diminished over the years due to ongoing development and to decrease maintenance costs by removing older trees that are dying or in decline and replacing them with healthier, younger and more viable trees. 

In August, Solomon announced that $15,000 would be allocated from the city’s Tree Trust to facilitate this initiative. Of that, $10,000 was set aside to pay for “set-back” plantings on private properties. The city has also engaged with services the Rhode Island Tree Council, a non-profit organization that has helped administer the program through the application process. Set-back planting is the practice of planting public trees for the benefit of a community on public rights of way and private properties. The overarching goal is to plant trees in larger soil volumes where they have a better conditions under which to survive and thrive. 

The Tree Council, which has successfully run similar programs throughout Rhode Island, will screen applications, select appropriate trees, inspect planting sites and contract with a private vendor to plant the trees. They will work in cooperation with City staff, which will coordinate the mapping of these trees in Warwick’s GIS for public access and viewing. Approximately 30 trees are expected to be planted through this portion of the funding. 

Homeowners who choose to take part in the program will be responsible for the full care of the tree once it is planted, relieving the City of the cost burden for the upkeep and any related problems caused by root-related sidewalk repairs, Solomon said.

 The remaining $5,000 was specifically set aside, Solomon said, for street trees in Conimicut Village. Any dead or dying trees have been removed by the Department of Public Works. Stump grinders were used to help prepare tree pits for replanting and to cover over pits that were deemed overcrowded or unusable after evaluation by the City’s registered landscape architect. The Tree Council will plant trees in the prepared pits and provide limited maintenance. Between 15 and 18 trees are expected to be planted with this funding.

For more information visit www.ritree.org.