DENVER – The Park People, a Denver nonprofit, is reminding residents it's time to apply!
Applications for the Denver Digs Trees program’s free and low-cost trees are due February 15. Organizers say the program is already started to sell out of certain species.
They say planting new trees is a good way to offset the expected impact of the emerald ash borer.
“EAB hasn’t been found in Denver yet, but it has been found in Colorado,” Denver Digs Trees program manager Leah Shafer said. “It’s a matter of when not if. So, when it arrives it will threaten ash trees in Denver. That’s one in six trees or over 330,000 street trees.”
Denver's real estate boom is also adding pressure, as developers take down trees to put up buildings.
And of course, some old trees are just that, old.
"Denver is certainly losing thousands of trees each year,” Shafer said. “Many of the trees were planted over a hundred years ago. So, they've reached their maximum maturity and are starting to decline. And that's just going to increase over the coming years. So, it's great to get proactive and start planting now."
The program provides all street trees for free.
Street trees are those planted in a public right-of-way, between a sidewalk and the street for example.
Yard trees are $10 for residents who live in targeted neighborhoods selected based on their low tree coverage, including Athmar Park, Auraria, Baker. Barnum, Barnum West, Chaffee Park, Clayton, Cole, College View/South Platte, East Colfax, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Green Valley Ranch, Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, Mar Lee, Montbello, Northeast Park Hill, Overland, Ruby Hill, Skyland, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood and Whittier.
Trees are $35 for homeowners in other neighborhoods. ‘Treeships’ for free yard trees are also available to people experiencing financial hardship.
To complete an application or get more information, text ‘TREE’ to 797979, visit www.TheParkPeople.org or call 303-722-6262 for a paper application.
Denver Digs Trees, with the help of Xcel Energy and Denver Parks and Recreation, has been adding to the city’s skyline for more than 27 years.
The program is still just open to Denver residents.
But organizers plan to eventually expand into the suburbs.
