This spring, the Urban Tree Alliance and the City of Fitchburg will partner with Operation Fresh Start to plant trees in the Southdale neighborhood. Planting trees in this neighborhood has been a priority since it was incorporated into the City of Fitchburg in October 2022.
In 2023 the City removed and replaced the dead and dying ash trees in the residential portion of the neighborhood and in Southdale Park. The plan was to continue to plant as many trees each spring as possible with existing budget resources. This project, funded by an Urban Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant, will expedite a complete tree canopy renovation of the entire neighborhood in a single year. When completed, this project will “catch up” the Southdale neighborhood on tree canopy and will be on track to reach the City of Fitchburg’s 30% tree canopy goal by 2050.
In preparation for the tree planting, the City of Fitchburg has removed dead and declining trees and ground the stumps. A tree planting plan was developed to replace these trees as well as add trees where they have not been planted previously. The Urban Tree Alliance ordered the trees and coordinated with Operation Fresh Start to plant them in late April and maintain the trees throughout the growing season. The result will be a variety of tree species planted that offer shade and beauty to the neighborhood for years to come.