apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

my heart weeps that we can't do this in NYC. I am happy for DC, but still dreaming of tree lined streets in my neighbourhood. I contacted so many associations to organize people to plant trees in Astoria, Queens (apparently it has the highest number of flat roofs in the country creating more greenhouse effect in the summer than anywhere else) and the funniest comment I got was from the district people: Well store owners pay a lot of money for their awnings, so they would not want trees to cover that.... Only in america....

Anusha73,

The City of New York apparently has an extensive street tree planting program described on its website. A friend showed it to me not long ago, it's quite impressive.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/trees_greenstreets/street_tree_plant.html

Pittsburgh also has a great tree planting program--www.pittsburghforest.org and www.treevitalizepgh.org The NYC campaign is HUGE and I cannot believe that people all over the city don't know about it---they will be planting 1 million trees in NYC and on April 25th, they are planting 15,000 in one day.

To find a tree org in your city go to www.ACTREES.org--they are a national tree org that many other tree orgs are part of.

(I work for a tree org :) )

Thank you John H. I do know of htis tree planting program, but as you are aware of it, the two options they give is to request a tree for free to be planted or you can plant your own, BUT only on front of your own property. I am a homeowner and have a tree planted in front and back of my property. I am talking about the big buildings that are everywhere in Queens and have absolutely no tree around the perimeter of one entire block at their building, or the homes that don't bother to plant one tree on the sidewalk bcs they don't want to clean leaves. I have begged my neighbours to plant trees, approaching them with the angle that the more beautiful our street looks, the better value their property will have. THe sad part is that a lot of these people come from countries where having water was a priority, or having a bathroom, having tree lined streets it in not important, as long as there is no mud getting inside their living room. I have given up, but the NYC plan works ONLY if the homeowner wants to plant. There are multiple buldings in the main stretch on Broadway where the owners don't even live there, are entirely rentals, why would they care how the street looks. It should be mandatory to have trees where trees can be planted, and big buildings should be paying a fine if they don't plant a tree every 20 feet or so in their sidewalk (here is another way for the city to collect money). If it is left in the hands of the management companies and homeowners that are too ignorant, it will never get done.
I appreciate your help John, but I have grown to bitter when it comes to the talk about the environment. If people don't try at home - forget it.

in philadelphia, the fairmount parks commission will glady and free of charge plant a tree in the sidewalk in front of your home. all you have to do is fill out the form on their website. we got a beautiful flowering tree planted last april. it's really taking root!!!!