Trees for Tomorrow (TfT) Commemorative Tree Program initiated by the Community Tree Council (CTC) is supported by the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (ACC), and is specifically designed for tree plantings recognizing a person, place, time or event. TfT is donor - supported consistent with the terms of the ACC Donor Acceptance Policy and tree canopy enhancement objectives stated in the ACC Tree Management Ordinance. The program has been in place for over ten years with the intent of raising funds to underwrite future plantings. Two issues have impeded full implementation and constitute the current TfT goal.
- Provide the mechanism to convert monetary donations into tree plantings on public land, and provide income to maintain and sustain the Community Tree Council's tree planting program.
- Secure a countywide agreement recognizing TfT as a viable county-supported program thus opening public lands as potential tree planting sites.
Visit the Trees for Tomorrow Photo Gallery
Trees or Tomorrow is specifically designed for the citizens of Athens-Clarke County to be able to create commemorative groves on ACC property.
- Trees for Tomorrow is specifically designed as a donor-driven program including individuals, corporations and institutions.
- Participant donations may be directed and include:
- A memorial to a loved one
- An honor or recognition of special individual(s)
- A celebration of an event (1996 Olympic Grove) or date of significance (2000 Millennium Grove)
- A gift to that special someone who simply has everything
- Individually donated funds paid to ACC through the CTC will be used to purchase, plant, mulch and maintain trees in designated planting sites.
There are many reasons for the program, some of which are:
- Involve the general public in the tree establishment process so they become stakeholders.
- Provide corporate and institutional organizations the opportunity to participate in a very popular and visible countywide activity
- Provide sites for tree plantings.
- Utilize available planting sites for optimal (site/species) restocking, a positive move toward the CTC's main mission of community forest sustainability and canopy maintenance.
- Provide a logical and planned strategy to reach the suggested overall canopy cover goal for county parks of 50%.
- Raise general awareness of the importance of trees in the community landscape
Current plantings completed at Athens Ben Epps Airport (Airport) on two sites.
- Plantings at the airport were made as part of a funded demonstration project under the Urban and Community Forest Grant Assistance Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission, and augmented by a generous gift offered through Woodland Growers of Winterville, Georgia.
- An airport landscape design and plan were presented and approved by the Athens Airport Authority in early February, 2007, and a Notice of Proposed Action was submitted to the ACC Manager in late February and passed through to Mayor and Commission where it was approved in March.
- Tree selection and purchasing was done next, with first delivery arriving on March 21, 2007. By early April all trees were delivered and planted in two grove sites at the airport, the entrance and pecan orchard and loop road.
Prince Avenue
- Plantings of dogwoods on Prince Ave were made on Feb 23, 2008 with funding from many donors and spearheaded by the Boulevard Neighborhood Association
- Continuing in a tradition of renewing the plantings of Dogwoods along Prince Ave. between Pulaski and Milledge, over thirty volunteers joined in on this historic planting activity.
Chase Street Elementary School
- After recent major renovations and additions, Chase St Elementary School needed to be replanted.
- School administration, PTO, neighbors and the Community Tree Council worked together on the planning and implementation that took place on Jan 19, 2009.
Holland Little League
- A memorial grove near the Little League fields at Holland was planted in Winter 2009.
The Trees for Tomorrow program has been in place in some form for 10 years but under-utilized. The current grant-funded implementation project was launched September 21, 2006 with the initiation of the Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Grant, Trees for Tomorrow project.
- Over 40 trees have been successfully planted and well watered at the airport showcasing a variety of species.
- Native species are featured in these plantings and range from large sized oak, maple, and ironwood, medium sized yellowwood and pecan, to small sized redbud and dogwood.
- Donors for the airport site are still being pursued.
- Countywide implementation has commenced for the 2009 and 2010 planting seasons.
- We view the implementation of the TfT program as both an important citizen-oriented initiative and as a strong marketing tool in the recruitment of sponsors to help underwrite overall CTC operations.
- On May 11, 2007, an additional U&CF grant proposal Assessment of Planting Opportunities on Public Lands" (APOP) was submitted for consideration, and approved for funding in July 2007. The purpose of this project was to locate and define potential tree planting opportunities on public lands to serve as receiver sites for trees underwritten by TfT donations. Each site has been mapped, evaluated and prioritized regarding its contribution and compatibility with existing land use, growing site potential to support trees and the availability of native species to populate the site. A specific high priority design and implementation plan will be developed and used as a model for the other sites. On July 17, 2007, APOP was approved for full funding. This study has been carried out during the summer of 2008.
- Repeat the process for the Clarke County School District, perhaps using the School Shade Tree program as a model.
- Strenuous marketing plans for donors will be essential.
- The 2008 planting season was the designated formal "kick-off" for the program.
- In keeping with the Athens-Clarke County Donations Acceptance Policy, once trees are planted on county property, they become the property of the county. While every effort will be made to manage the commemorative grove in the spirit it was created, it does not preclude future changes as county priorities may dictate.
- The minimum cost for participating in the program is $175 per tree.
- Contributions in greater amounts are always welcome as we seek to maintain and grow this important community-oriented program, and to help underwrite other CTC initiatives.
- Honorees are recognized on a custom Trees for Tomorrow -Airport plaque to be mounted in the Ben Epps North terminal reception area; by a plaque near the Taylor-Grady House on Prince; etc.
- More details of donors and honorees will be listed in the "Tree Legacy Book" archived in the Heritage Room of the Athens Regional Library.
Show us your interest to participate by sending us your name, address (street, city, state, zip), phone and e-mail address via:
E-mail: information@athenstrees.com,
Mail: 350 Pound St. Athens, GA 30601
|
|
