The Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department is one of 41 recipients from around the state to receive a Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The $7,044 grant from the Department of Conservation in part will pay for the planting of new trees at two city parks.
With additional matching funds from the Park Department, horticulturist Murray Hammond said, the total money involved will be around $11,000.
New trees are planned for both McLane Park and Hendrickson Park, Hammond said.
“Trees are going in the median in the parking lot at the ball complex at McLane Park,” Hammond said. “We’ll put in Armstrong maples at McLane because they only get 20 feet wide and won’t overtake the parking lot.”
At Hendrickson Park, trees will be “going in the green space around the creek, behind playground No. 1 where we took the fence down and did all the clearing,” explained Hammond.
Trees species to be planted at Hendrickson park, Hammond said, include bald cypress, sawtooth oak and chokeberry.
In all, a total of 28 trees will be planted, and the work, Hammond said, will be done in the spring.
“TRIM grants help communities with tree management-related activities that help keep neighborhood trees healthy and thriving,” said MDC Community Forestry Coordinator Russell Hinnah. “Grant funds are matched by each grant recipient to help with tree inventories, pruning, planting, removals and educational programs.”
Poplar Bluff has lost a large number of trees over recent years, Hammond said, which need to be replaced.
“Over the years, there have been so many trees lost to disease and construction. We’ve lost so many trees between storms and developments in the last several years, we just need to start replacing them,” Hammond said.
“Trees in Missouri cities and towns provide an amazing number of benefits. They reduce air and water pollution, impact heating and cooling costs and increase real estate values,” MDC said in a news release. “They can improve physical and mental health and are even associated with reduced crime rates. Trees and green spaces help get people outside, fostering active living and neighborhood pride.”
The TRIM grants are handed out annually, according to MDC, and Poplar Bluff has received them in the past.
However, Hammond said, “it’s been a while since we applied for it.”