Free trees still available for Cd'A residents
<p>Coeur d'Alene urban forestry volunteers Janet Devey and Dean Sutton prune young trees along Seltice Way in western Coeur d'Alene.</p>
The City of Coeur d'Alene has young trees that need a home. Trees are planted in public right-of-ways in front of homes at no cost to the homeowner. Planting will begin in in the spring.
The young trees are available to homeowners or residents who are willing to provide care, including watering and protecting from mowers and trimmers. Interested residents should contact the Urban Forestry Division of the Coeur d'Alene Parks Department to sign up for a street tree. The number is 769-2266.
“Trees reduce air pollution, increase oxygen in the air, mitigate storm water runoff, buffer noises, lower energy costs, increase property value and much more,” said Coeur d'Alene urban forester Katie Kosanke.
Funding for the trees has come from a street tree fee collected on residential building permits. The owners of the homes whose street tree fees have been forfeited are the first choice for using these funds. The city has already contacted those property owners. However, there are still some trees unclaimed.
The tree species still available are honey locust, white ash, black tupelo, hackberry, pin oak, flowering pear, littleleaf linden and ginkgo. The trees will be planted by contract tree planting crews in April and May. Since there are a limited number of trees, interested homeowners are encouraged to reply as soon as possible.
More information and a response form are available online at www.cdaidparks.org. You can also send an email to kkosanke@cdaid.org.
Priority will be given this year to targeted areas including new neighborhoods (less than 10 years old) and residential properties near the downtown area, south of Sherman Avenue and west of 15th Street.