In the 1950s, residents and city planners planted dozens of trees throughout Greenfield’s downtown area and adjacent neighborhoods, but they chose Norway maples, an invasive species.
“They grow fast and they don’t support local species. A lot of them are in pretty poor shape now, and one by one, they’re dying out,” said Margo Jones, a local architect and a member of the Greenfield Tree Committee.
For replacements, the tree committee is trying to plant 1,000 mostly native trees by 2026. Since 2014, the committee has directly planted 171 trees, including 25 at Lunt Park last fall. The committee has overseen the planting of another 440 in collaboration with the Greenfield Department of Public Works.
On the first day of May beginning at 8:30 a.m., another 25 trees will be planted at Elm Terrace — and residents will have a chance to help out. Volunteers can bring a shovel, a rake or “just enthusiasm. For sure, bring masks. Gloves are helpful,” Jones said.
Working with committee members and in socially distanced spaces, Jones estimated the work will take a few hours. After holes are dug by the Greenfield Housing Authority, volunteers will plant the trees, replace the dirt and spread mulch around the trunks.
For a few years following, the trees will be tended and pruned by the committee.
“It’s fun to get your hands dirty and make a statement about climate change,” Jones said.
Among the many community benefits of canopy cover such as increased property value, Mary Chicoine, a longtime member of the committee, noted that trees reduce the heat island effect by providing shade on sidewalks.
“They sequester and store carbon. Also, with more frequent and intense rain events we’ve been having, they can slow storm water runoff, which is really important in Greenfield because our wastewater treatment plant gets overwhelmed,” Chicoine said.
While Greenfield has a fair amount of trees for its size, Chicoine said there are many areas that don’t have canopy coverage.
“There are some areas that only have seven percent of tree canopy cover or 12 percent. The ideal goal is 40 percent. We are lucky that there are a lot of trees in the area, but there are areas where people are going to lunch or going to do business where we could definitely plant more trees,” she said.
Upcoming, the Greenfield Tree Committee is planning another public tree planting event in the fall, among other initiatives. Additionally, through a 2018 U.S. Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration Grant, the tree committee is creating a regional tree nursery at Just Roots Farm in Greenfield. All trees grown in the nursery will be planted in public spaces by the Tree Committee and/or the Department of Public Works.
Jones, who has practiced architecture locally for 36 years, said planting trees in community spaces is an act of environmental justice, not just a practical way to combat climate change while beautifying the community.
For a homeowner who’s barely making it financially, planting trees probably isn’t at the top of their to-do list. That’s where the tree committee can help through its public planting initiative.
“We have wonderful oaks in the back of our yard that are just magnificent. It’s always been something I’ve valued — mature trees — and now, more and more, I understand their importance,” Jones said. “If you look around town, there are areas and streets where there’s just not enough tree cover. There just isn’t.”
In this, Jones said, “We need to be sure that everyone has the benefit of canopy cover.”
Andy Castillo can be reached at acastillo@recorder.com.