Trees clean the air and make Louisville beautiful. Trees protect the climate and save energy costs. Trees mitigate the impact of storm water on the land. Those are a few of the impacts of trees that were considered when the Community of Trees was organized in Spring 2007 by the Mayor’s Office and Metro Parks. With Brightside as the lead agency, a consortium of Metro agencies, JCPS, U of L, EONUSA, E-Corps, the Kentucky Division of Forestry among others was formed to develop a comprehensive approach to trees in our city. Community of Trees recognizes that planting trees is the first step and that maintenance is the crucial step in assuring a healthy environment.

Community of Trees has identified five action items that form the basis of a significant environmental initiative that could be launched this fall. Full implementation of the initiative would take several years. However, measurable impacts are immediate due to donor underwriting of a new Urban TreeScape Grant Program. With the announcement of the Urban TreeScape grant Program, the initiative would establish these goals that will lead Louisville to becoming designated as a Tree City USA.

1. Establish acceptable regulatory oversight of tree planting and maintenance.
2. Gather information to help us establish baseline data, understand the current tree canopy and quantify its value.
3. Create master tree planting and maintenance plan for significant areas of our community starting with downtown.
4. Fund the plan(s) through public funds, grant opportunities, private donors and in-kind gifts. Achieving “Tree City” designation will help us find funds.
5. Launch outreach campaign to provide baseline education on the value of trees to average citizens.