Charleston neighborhood partnering with city to plant more trees
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The North Central Neighborhood Association is teaming up with the City of Charleston to make the streets greener.
“There’s a couple areas that dawned on me that don’t have any trees at all along the street,” said Jon Chalfie, a resident who lives on Maple Street.
After noticing the lack of trees in some areas, Chalfie went to the City of Charleston to see what could be done to plant more trees. The idea grew into what is now called the Legacy Tree Program.
“The Legacy Tree Program is an initiative to correct the over 500 tree deficit that we have in North Central. Trees are great for the neighborhood, for beautification, for shade, for stormwater management, so, we really want to make sure we can get more trees into the neighborhood, so that we don’t have such a large deficit,” said Savannah Weeks, the Secretary for the NCNA.
The nonprofit’s Legacy Tree Program is branching off the city’s Street Tree Program which is credited with expanding Charleton’s urban forest by up to 500 trees a year.
Residents can purchase a tree for $295 and the city will water it for a year and prune it for its lifetime.
“The city is the one who actually comes out and plants the tree. So, the city plants it on the easement between the sidewalk and the street and the city will decide what tree is appropriate for that site,” explained Weeks.
Neighbors said the placement of the tree will also be carefully considered.
“One big part of this program is it takes into account where power lines are and what trees can be grown in certain areas,” Chalfie told News 2.
The NCNA said the city has offered to donate a free tree for every two purchased by residents. So far, they’ve sold seven out of their 15-tree goal for the year.
“I know on my street where I live, we don’t have any trees, so my partner and I have bought one for our street. We’re still trying to figure out where we are going to put it, but it’s a really great thing,” Weeks shared. To purchase a tree or to donate to what officials said is NCNA’s goal of $4,500 in its first year, click here.
