Press - Mayor Pledges to “ReGreen” Tulsa with 20,000 Trees

Mayor Announces ReGreen Tulsa – 20,000 by 2010

Today, Mayor Kathy Taylor along with City Councilor Cason Carter (District 9) and Anna America, Executive Director of Up With Trees, Inc., announced “20,000 by 2010” - a plan to re-green the city of Tulsa.

“This is the third phase of our storm recovery. First, we implemented Operation Power Up! to restore power to our citizens. Phase 2 is to diligently work to clean up debris. The third phase is to work to get our City green again.”

“The 2007 ice storm caused the loss of, or damage to, almost the same number of trees that Up With Trees has planted in its 30-year history,” said Mayor Kathy Taylor. “We must repair that damage. We have been known as a Tree City and we must continue that important Tulsa heritage.”

“20,000 by 2010 is our goal,” Taylor said. “Thanks to planning completed in 2007 by Councilor Carter and the Tree Advisory Committee we have been able to quickly put together a plan to reach this goal. The plan will include planting in public and private areas as well as neighborhood education on the value and care of trees,” Taylor added.

“With the great work of the tree advisory committee, we have much of this plan in place, including identifying the trees which are the most likely to survive such a storm, not cause issues for our power lines, and also help our environment,” said Councilor Carter, Tree Advisory Committee Chair.

“Thanks to the generosity of Tulsans, many of whom supported beautification and development of our river, we have raised a $1.5 million challenge grant to apply to this program. We will need $4 million in private dollars over the next three years,” Taylor said.

A key partner, AEP/PSO has agreed to provide $150,000 over the life of the program.

“The fabulous thing about Tulsa is how people come together and private citizens step forward to partner with government,’ Taylor said. “Each ReGreen Tulsa tree costs about $300. We challenge community groups, schools and churches to raise funds for re-greening Tulsa. One way Tulsans can participate in ReGreen Tulsa is by making a contribution to the Tulsa Community Foundation, designating the donation as “ReGreen Tulsa, 20,000 by 2010.”

The inaugural ReGreen Tulsa tree was planted at Tulsa’s first park – Owen Park, and the location of Tulsa’s Oldest Existing House. One of Tulsan’s favorite trees, the white bud tree, was planted south of the house at the entrance to the park.

“During ReGreen Tulsa, trees will be planted throughout the city in city parks, storm retention areas and on rights of way using private funding,” Councilor Carter said. “Another partner, Up With Trees, will assist with plantings in neighborhoods using community volunteers. The NeighborWoods initiative of ReGreen Tulsa will be launched in neighborhoods with the greatest need and will provide trees and tree care education.”

“Every Tulsan can help us reach our goal. If you plant a tree, you may register it with the Mayor’s office and we will provide you a certificate honoring the occasion and naming you an official ReGreen Tulsa 20,000 by 2010 partner,” Taylor explained. “You may also raise money to plant a tree, or you may apply to have your neighborhood considered for the new NeighborWoods program, which will provide education and trees for areas highly impacted by the storm and with limited financial resources to replant,” said Taylor.

“Up With Trees has been planting trees in Tulsa for 30 years,” said Anna America, Executive Director of Up With Trees. “The loss of trees during this ice storm is an opportunity to get everyone in our community educated and involved in re-greening this city. We will reach the goal of 20,000 by 2010 with your help.”

Up With Trees, Inc., a Tulsa nonprofit organization devoted to planting trees throughout the city, is another expert partner in ReGreen Tulsa.

“The first ReGreen planting will be Feb. 23 in the Owen Park neighborhood,” said America. “We will be working with a group of volunteers from the University of Tulsa and members of the Owen Park Neighborhood Association to plant several dozen trees and begin replacing some of what was lost here in December.”

Up With Trees and the Mayor’s office are also working with a coalition of other tree education groups to hold free TreeFairs and educational seminars across the city this spring and throughout the year. Members will continue to work with neighborhoods at a variety of events to get the message out about how to plant and care for trees.

“This storm not only helped remind us how much we cherish our trees in Tulsa, it also highlighted the importance of planting the right tree in the right place in the right way,” America said.

“The education program provided at the TreeFairs will encourage families to feel a sense of commitment to the trees that they plant,” added Mayor Taylor. “This program is not just about distributing and planting trees, it’s about making a commitment toward community and Tulsa’s future.”

ReGreen Tulsa was adapted from successful models developed in Atlanta, Austin and Indianapolis.

Those interested in participating in ReGreen Tulsa as volunteers can sign up online or call Up With Trees at 610-8733.