The Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department recently received a $24,323 grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation for the management and improvement of trees.
The Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance grant program is a competitive, cost-share tree care program that provides funding to government agencies, public schools and nonprofit groups to help with management, improvement or conservation of trees, according to the MDC website. The program is administered by MDC in partnership with the Missouri Community Forest Council.
Jefferson City Forester Ray Wallace said the grants are specifically designed for urban forestry work.
"When people think forestry they think woods - out in the forest - but these go to mainly urban forestry, for cities to help them establish their urban forest or continue their urban forest," Wallace said.
Urban forestry refers to trees within a city or community, along streets and in parks.
The grant will be used by the parks department to complete tree inventory, removal and education.
Part of the funds will be used to complete an inventory of the city's trees following the May 22 tornado, Wallace said.
All of the city parks have been inventoried, as well as a decent amount of the city, but Wallace said an inventory of the east-central region of the city needs to be re-inventoried due to many trees being damaged by the tornado.
A tree inventory keeps track of how many trees there are and their species, as well as their condition. Additionally, an inventory can help find empty spaces where new trees could be planted. "Street trees," within the street right-of-way, will be inventoried.
The inventory will span from Adams Street to Riverside Drive and from the Missouri River to East Miller Street, he said.
Some of the grant will be used for tree removal. Wallace said some ash trees on Monroe Street are nearing the end of their lifespans and need to be removed so new trees can be planted.
The education aspect of the grant will be completed by sending the city's certified arborists to the International Society of Arboriculture conference next year so they can maintain their certifications.
Wallace said they have until next June to use the grant money, and work can start Nov. 1.
Trees can provide many benefits to cities, according to an MDC news release, including reducing air and water pollution, impacting heating and cooling costs, and increasing real estate values.
"Trees make life better for our cities and towns every day," MDC Community Forestry Program Supervisor Russell Hinnah said in the news release. "TRIM grants help communities with tree inventory, pruning, planting, and programs that help keep our neighborhood trees healthy and thriving."
Through 38 grants, MDC has awarded a total of $438,615 to Missouri communities in 2019. Other nearby grant recipients include the University of Missouri and the city of Columbia.
TRIM grants are awarded on a matching basis. All projects are eligible for a 60 percent match, or a 75 percent match if located in a Tree City USA community. Jefferson City has been a Tree City USA community for 22 years.
Most grants given are around $10,000, but Wallace said Jefferson City Parks was lucky enough to receive one of a few larger grants.
"The money goes a long way, too," he said.
Because of Jefferson City's status as a Tree City, the grant needs to be matched with 25 percent local funds. Wallace said this will come in part through the labor to remove the ash trees on Monroe Street and from the hours spent at the conference.