FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Contact: Brie Turek (407) 246-3106
Cheryl Henry (407) 246-3582

MORE THAN 10,000 CITY TREES
TO BE REPLANTED BY 2010

City of Orlando’s Parks Division, Keep Orlando Beautiful & Green-up Orlando Launch 10,000 Trees Initiative to Revive City Landscape from Hurricane Damage

(Tuesday, March 29, 2005) – The 2004 tumultuous hurricane season resulted in a loss of more than 20,000 trees (both City and private) in the City of Orlando, where the average loss is expected annually to be 500 trees. The City’s clean-up cost for tree debris alone was approximately $23 million, and estimated costs to replace the lost trees are more than two million dollars.

In an effort to restore the forestry damage incurred this past year, the City of Orlando’s Parks Division, Green-up Orlando and Keep Orlando Beautiful, Inc., have joined forces to launch a tree replacement strategy to keep Orlando beautiful… the 10,000 Trees Initiative.

“The goal of the 10,000 Trees Initiative is designed to replace the urban canopy in the Orlando community by 2010, so that the long-term affects of the recent storms are minimized and a pleasant City landscape can be maintained,” said Mayor Ernest Page. “This will be accomplished through soliciting funds, organizing volunteers and coordinating plantings. The City is thrilled to be leading the efforts to restore the trees of the City Beautiful.”

A core focus of the initiative is on funding. In addition to the $90,000 per year already funded through the City for tree planting, capital improvement funds, grants and donations will be sought after.

To date, the City has applied for various grants to assist in the 10,000 Tree Initiative including the Florida Department of Agriculture Hurricane Grant – a 75/25 matching grant totaling $13,000,000 for the state of Florida which is administered through the Florida Division of Forestry; a one time $10,000 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation; and a Florida Civilian Appropriations Request sponsored by Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez. The City of Orlando will continue to apply for other grants throughout the program to assist in reaching the 10,000- tree goal.

The City will also explore multi-year funding for the purchase of additional trees and obtain funding for a computerized tree inventory and management system, which can be used to locate, identify, evaluate and record each tree in a database. The tree inventory and management system will allow for a City-wide Urban Forestry Master Plan to be developed and less vulnerability to damage or liability losses.

Orlando citizens are encouraged to join in the historic effort to restore Orlando’s tree canopy. Individuals and organizations can support the planting of a 30-gallon street tree with a $100 tax-deductible contribution through the existing Community and Youth Trust. Additionally, volunteers can help by giving their time to the 10,000 Trees Initiative and become a team leader to teach others to plan trees and coordinate plantings.

In addition to the funding efforts of the 10,000 Tree Initiative, current City tree planting programs will be continued to reach the 10,000-tree goal such as:

• Trees In the Parkway – Offered to individual homeowners from the City at no cost where trees are planted in the Parkway (right-of-way) along the City street and the homeowner must agree to water, feed and care for the tree until established.

• Trees to Good Homes – Neighborhood groups can coordinate together and purchase trees at wholesale prices for their private property if they meet specific criteria.

• Green-up Orlando – Green-up Orlando encourages citizens and groups to volunteer and plant trees and shrubs, and raise public awareness and promote the benefits of volunteer efforts in partnership with the City of Orlando.

Citizens, organizations and businesses interested in participating in the 10,000 Trees Initiative to keep Orlando beautiful can call (407) 246-2287 for more information. For full details on the City of Orlando’s tree planting programs, log on to www.cityoforlando.net.

City of Orlando Parks Division
The Parks division is responsible for providing the highest quality parks, street tree canopy and open spaces to the citizens and visitors of Orlando through excellence in design, construction and maintenance. There are over 102 parks located through out the City, in neighborhoods and adjacent to Community Centers.

Green-up Orlando Program
Created in 1985, the Green-up Orlando program strives to increase the City’s available tree canopy and to improve the appearance of the community. The program is designed to stimulate improvements to public places in neighborhoods through volunteer efforts and contributions.

Keep Orlando Beautiful, Inc.
Founded in 1987, Keep Orlando Beautiful, Inc. is a nonprofit organization and certified as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. The program is part of the City of Orlando and is administered by the Streets, Drainage and Stormwater Utility Bureau of the Public Works Department.

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