Over the last several years, Wakefield has faced a tree deficit; more street trees had to be removed than were planted. The CommuniTree Program, administered through the Department of Public Works, aims to reverse the trend.
While many trees throughout Wakefield have simply reached the end of their natural lifecycles, (sub)urban stress and storms have also impacted the health of our forestry. Acid rain, winter road treatments, invasive moths, disease, and storm damages have all contributed to the need for tree removal. These environmental impacts, coupled with the limited lifespan of “(sub)urban” trees (many plantings that date back to the 1970s) – have led to the current need to reverse this deficit trend for our Town’s forestry.
The goal of this program is to level the removal-to-planting ratio in the next two years and pursue an annual surplus in the years that follow. This will also help to ensure our Town’s environmental resiliency into the future.
Community Involvement
This initiative will allow residents, visitors, local organizations, and businesses to donate a tree to supplement the ongoing work of Wakefield’s Forestry Division. While donors will have a list of tree species from which to indicate a preference and can request a neighborhood in which the tree is planted, the Forestry Division will ultimately determine the viability of the requests based on surrounding plantings, placement of utilities, and sidewalk and green space limitations.
• A $300 donation sponsors the planting of one tree.
• Smaller contributions will be pooled to support planting in an area of need.
• As with all other street trees, the Department of Public Works will secure and maintain the donated plantings.
• If your donation is a gift to acknowledge a birthday, anniversary, or other special event, please make an indication on the submission form. A certificate will be provided that you can present to your recipient.
• Planting are expected to begin in fall 2019, prior to ground freezing, and will resume in the spring of 2020.
• Donors will be contacted to discuss their requested tree species and proposed location prior to planting.