July/August 2014 | 7
C
ommunity development is often
associated with improving schools and
housing, but as Davey knows, trees matter, too.
Spearheaded by Burton, Bell, Carr, a
neighborhood development organization, the
program is called "Green It Up!" and focused
on "greening up" Cleveland's Central
Neighborhood by planting approximately 25
trees from November 2013 through May 2014.
With support from Holden Arboretum and
Keep Cleveland Beautiful, Western Reserve
Land Conservancy, Keep Ohio Beautiful,
Cuyahoga ReLeaf and DRG collaborated with
Burton, Bell, Carr.
Karen Wise, regional operations manager for
DRG's natural resource consulting group and
Keep Ohio Beautiful board member, represented
DRG in May, as well as on Nov. 16, 2013, at
the kickoff event for the planting initiative.
For the May plantings, DRG's Brad McBride
first completed a volunteer inventory of the
Green It Up! focus area and discovered 20
vacant planting sites. "We worked with Burton,
Bell, Carr to identify residents who would be
good tree stewards," he says.
Davey Nursery Foreman Jason Garber and
Nursery Laborer Cody Klintworth installed 16
of the trees under McBride's supervision.
Community volunteers then helped plant and
mulch the four remaining trees, which included
urban tolerant species.
"People were interested in helping, and
they wanted to make a difference," McBride
says. "It's nice to be part of something that is
well appreciated."
"The best part about this program," Wise
adds, "is the community gets involved and
learns how planting trees can improve their
sense of pride in their neighborhood."
Greening the Central
Brad McBride (right) helps a young
volunteer complete a tree planting.
Davey's Cody Klintworth, Brad McBride and
Jason Garber (pictured left to right) help plant a
tree in Cleveland's Central Neighborhood in May.
Arbor
Day
2014
