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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
 
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Posted on: 2016/11/3 3:01
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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dt jcview, apparently you are assuming that our (JCPC) initiative is being done in conjunction with the EC?s report; it is not. The report was used as a wake up call to the deficit in Jersey City?s tree canopy, and we decided to try to be part of the solution.
This is an ongoing objective of our non-profit, to address quality of life issues in small and large ways by engaging the public in improving their surroundings, and at the same time helping the environment. Before any goals were announced, we meet with the group in Manhattan that planted one million trees in the last 8 years, to find best practices to insure survivability of the newly planted trees, how they engaged the public, raised funds, and established a maintenance program. The initial goal of 2,020 trees by 2020 was selected as what we thought could be successfully funded and maintained by our organization. Once the city agreed to be part of our initiative, that number was increased to 5,000, with matching funding from the city. We have since received grants of $300,000, $5,000, and $25,000. We consulted with the NJ Tree Foundation, Rutgers, NJCU, certified arborists, PSEG, and multiple mid-sized cities in the U.S. that have successful tree programs. We meet with the administration and its Public Works Department on a regular basis to review tree selection, planting practices, and proper follow up maintenance. There are on-going discussions to set up a citywide tree care program by the city, map out our entire canopy, and identify the variety and condition of each tree, and to establish a volunteer ?Tree Lovers Crew? (?TLC?) to supplement the care of existing trees. Again, if you go to the JCPC?s website: jcparks.org, you will get a full picture of who we are and what goals we are trying to accomplish. It?s not the number of trees planted that is of most importance to us, it?s the proper tree, survival, enlarged tree pits, pervious surfaces, rain gardens, proper locations, and making the public aware of what they can do to improve their surroundings. Planting 5,000 new trees will only increase the canopy by about 3%, but it?s a start where there wasn?t one before, As a private citizen (not as a JCPC member), I can ask that voters support the Open Space Referendum on the Nov. 8th ballot, which would greatly increase the ability to reach the goal of 35% canopy coverage. Since you have such concerns, feel free to help us with our program instead of trying to negate our efforts. -parkman
Posted on: 2016/11/3 2:53
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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Quote:
Huh?
Posted on: 2016/11/3 0:56
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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Only in JC where one third of the population who live in tax abated buildings will vote to raise the taxes on the remaining 2/3 of the population. NOT one person in any tax abated building will an increase in rents/taxes if this goes through. The 1/3 figure in in the "friendly budget" on the municipal end and in the county figures.
Posted on: 2016/11/3 0:19
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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First let me encourage everyone to Vote "YES" on the 2 cents J.C. Open Space Tax. My complaint was that the recommendations in the report have been diluted to point it's now being touted as plant x number of trees by year 2020. There are clear synergies between traffic calming, flood prevention, stormwater management and green infrastructure than should be exploited in terms of planning and federal funding. And planting trees on streets without a plan for maintenance in place (one of the goals in the report), just adds to the streetscape mess we already have.
Posted on: 2016/11/3 0:03
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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I'm a bit confused about dtjc's posting. The report is cited and then there is a comment on the lack of planning?? Reading through the report shows that quite a bit of thinking going into a good game plan to make the city more safely green by increasing the canopy throughout Jersey City. I can understand parkman's frustration, but I do hope that he won't refrain from using the forum to post pertinent material on any issue. It's a needed public service.
Posted on: 2016/10/31 12:52
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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Quote:
Parkman
Posted on: 2016/10/31 3:47
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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http://www.gicinc.org/PDFs/Jersey_City_Report.pdf
A program that measures success by the number of trees planted is a failure. 2020 trees (or even double) by 2020 - is a tiny fraction of what's needed to get to 20% canopy. Walk around anywhere in JC. Look at trees ripping up sidewalks. Branches pressing under utilities. Trees planted on top of utilities. Planting trees on city streets, with no plan, is idiocy. Let's have REAL plans, and not just numbers.
Posted on: 2016/10/31 0:51
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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Wow!! What a great posting.
We're fortunate to have this kind of information presented, because the content is important and I'm sure that others who've have read it will have benefitted from all you've told. As well jersey City as a community benefits because you took the time to post and overcame what I'm sure has caused others to forego posting positive, helpful information. Thank you....
Posted on: 2016/10/30 17:05
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
Joined:
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Quote:
To provide some background, while I was a member of the JC Environmental Commission, my goal was to establish a Shade Tree Commission, which at the time, the then administration was not willing to constitute (it?s a long story). However, during that term, a Tree Committee was formed, which evaluated the then existing tree selection for street trees planted in Jersey City, and started, then completed, a tree canopy study of our city wide coverage. It was determined that we only had a17% coverage, including Liberty State Park, which ideally should be 40% for a city our size. At the same time, the Jersey City Parks Coalition (JCPC), which had planted 238,000 Daffodils and Tulips throughout Jersey City with thousands of Volunteers over the last four years, decided to make their next initiative, the planting of 2020 trees by the year 2020. Then, collaboration with the Mayor, City Council, Goldman Sachs, and other contributors that number was increased to 5,000. This initiative is not only trying to increase our canopy, it also provides workshops to increase survival and maintenance of the newly planted varieties, which are selected to be the ?right tree in the right place?, species that won?t lift sidewalks, and those that have the best survival rate in an urban environment. In the last year and a half, this initiative has planted over fifteen hundred trees in our parks and streets, and the JCPC is currently giving away four varieties of 150 trees through a gift from the Arbor Day Foundation, for resident?s front, back and side yards (not street trees). If you go to www.jcparks.org and click on ?City of Trees?, you?ll be able to apply for a free tree, read why trees are so important to our health and well being, and how to participate in helping us identify the number, species, and size, of our existing canopy. We (JCPC) are also working with the current administration and its Public Works, to establish a maintenance program for our street trees, and with PSEG to use ?best practices? for pruning and select trees that are best for under power lines. If implemented properly, supported by our residents, engaged by the administration and volunteers, we can provide a healthier, more beautiful, and safer place to live. parkman
Posted on: 2016/10/30 4:23
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Re: Trees for the future....
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BE WARNED. The JCIA / DPW uses street trees as a revenue raising opportunity.
I've lived in DTJC over 15 years, dutifully tending a tree that is on City property in front of my house. It's a lovely Bradford pear, a beautiful tree, although the roots do raise the sidewalk some. I clean up around the tree, weed when needed and trim the suckers that shoot up each year. Have done so for 15 years. Last year, without any initial request or warning, the City fined me before I had an opportunity to trim the suckers. And before you ask, no they weren't obstructing the sidewalk in any way. Recall I've cared for this tree for 15 years. In all that time I've never seen a City employee go anywhere near the tree. I called the JCIA, spoke with the Inspector and explained how I care for the tree year in and out. I very respectfully suggested, under the circumstances, they consider issuing a warning rather than a fine. I was bluntly informed ?we don't issue warnings.? I'm done. I will NEVER plant another tree in Jersey City on the sidewalk where the JCIA or DPW staff can use it as an excuse to extract a fine.
Posted on: 2016/10/29 17:31
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One time in band camp, the passage way got stifled
so the remedy was a visit to the Fart Doctor - past the big oak tree.
Posted on: 2016/10/29 17:12
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Quote:
Posted on: 2016/10/29 16:11
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Re: Trees for the future....
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I had a former neighbor who was a heart doctor, she said when people tripped and broke their bones on the uneven sidewalk in JC (trees lifting up the sidewalk) the Medical Center would refer those patients to heart doctors, too. It was a money maker for the doctors. Those were the exact words.
Posted on: 2016/10/29 14:08
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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Many thanks for the info--will do, and I hope that many others will consider planting trees for those who will come after us as well as for our own sense of contributing to the present. BTW, for your back yard a paper (white) birch is a beautiful ornamental to tuck in a corner, not taking up much canopy space and a beauty in all seasons. I just gave one to a friend on seventh street and it loves his yard (and good sun exposure). The only problem may be locating them since Home Depot and Lowe's stick to a pretty generic selection. I ordered mine from out of state. Sometimes you'll find them along railroad tracks near wooded areas. A young one easily transplants.
Posted on: 2016/10/29 13:42
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Home away from home
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You should do a search in this forum, as I remember similar threads in which this very topic was discussed. If I recall correctly, I think parkman, brewster, and perhaps tommyc_37, had a lot of good information on trees suitable for urban planting,
Posted on: 2016/10/28 21:43
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Home away from home
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Wonderfully informative post.
I planted my first trees over forty years ago and just recently I saw them towering quite a ways up. There's a wonderful sense of contributing something that will be here long after we're gone, reaching into future generations. It's too bad that as we become more urban in our habits that we leave this duty to government DPW's and the like. I'm with HPYC : "bring 'em on".
Posted on: 2016/10/28 20:59
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Home away from home
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There are plenty of trees that are suitable for planting in urban sidewalk locations. I would hate to live in a city with nothing but container plants. You need to mark out utilities (gas, water, sewer, electric) before you choose a location and think about root spread and depth, but there is no reason not to plant trees with a little common sense and planning.
They don't have to be towering oaks, sycamores or sugar maples. Trees that will do better around overhead lines (and probably sewers and sidewalks as well) include hornbeams, cherries, smaller maples, crabapples, dogwoods, flowering plums, honey locust, littleleaf lindens, and the list goes on. Plenty of choices to suit a given location. Trees - bring em on!
Posted on: 2016/10/28 16:09
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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You make a good point Yvonne.
It's hard to understand why up above West Side Avenue onto the Boulevard, sometimes you encounter these huge sycamores that haven't damaged sidewalks, although whether or not they intrude on the sewer systems can't be known. I would guess that a little research into trees best suitable for urban environments is in order. I have noticed quite a few plantings of Ginko trees in the downtown area. Perhaps the Mayor's office could offer direction to the right department. A friend of mine just told me about two magnificent trees at 7th and Erie which may bear appreciating. They don't appear to be causing much trouble and the owner of the building which hosts them is quite proud of them and most glad that they are there.
Posted on: 2016/10/28 13:35
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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Be extremely careful about planting trees, I have always suggested containers. The tree's roots lift up the sidewalks causing accidents and the roots will grow into sewer system. I have spent a great deal of money on plumbers when the plumber said to cut down the tree. I did and my problems of backups were solved.
Posted on: 2016/10/28 13:08
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Home away from home
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That's great news--thanks for the posting. Trees do so much for a locality in many ways. Try to plant one wherever you live, and remember, they need care--especially during the hot months.
Posted on: 2016/10/28 12:31
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Re: Trees for the future....
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Home away from home
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Quote:
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... plant_2020_trees_cit.html
Posted on: 2016/10/27 15:26
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Home away from home
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Has anyone planted and cared for one recently?
I think the city could use some new ones and future generations would appreciate the effort.
Posted on: 2016/10/27 15:18
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