PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three years ago Reid Middle School students joined city and state officials to plant one new tree in front of the school.

 

That was just the start. Since then, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has planted more than 2,000 trees in the city and looks to reach the goal of 2,400 this year. 

 

"Since that humble beginning three years ago, we've planted almost 2,000 trees throughout the planting zone in the city," said DCR Urban Forester Yoni Glogower, who served as the keynote speaker for Friday's Arbor Day ceremony.

 

The "Green the Gateway Cities" program was developed in 2014 and the state put more than $12 million over the last three years toward planting 20,000 trees in eight gateway cities with the hope of increasing the urban canopy by 10 to 15 percent.

 

The program was first piloted in 2014 in Chelsea, Holyoke, and Revere and then rolled out to Pittsfield in 2016. But the beginning of the program as pre-dates that, according to Glogower. In 2008, state officials recognized an issue with the Asian long horn beetle destroying trees throughout the state. Glogower said in Worcester some 28,000 were destroyed.

 

An eradication program began then which also included the cutting and replanting of infected trees. But that later expanded and the gateway cities, which Glogower said tends to have an older housing stock and thinner tree density, to increase the total number of trees. Glogower said trees play a significant role in reducing temperatures through share and water circulating in the tree, which reduces energy usage. 

 

He said preliminary data is showing a decrease in energy uses in those cities. DCR staff is planting new trees on municipally-owned property, commercial property, and private residences.

 

"Greening the Gateway Cities is just one of a suite of efforts aimed at investing in the future of these communities," he said.

 

State Sen. Adam Hinds also noted that Western Massachusetts serves an important role in sequestering carbon emissions from the eastern part of the state because of the number of trees. 

 

The ceremony was held at Tucker Park and Hinds highlighted other improvements to the park. Hinds previously worked with at-risk youth in the area and said investments in parks improves neighborhoods.

 

"The value of parks for sending a signal when they are in good shape, when they are demonstrating the city and the state is paying attention is really important," Hinds said. "We're investing neighborhood by neighborhood."

 

Recreation Coordinator Becky Manship read a proclamation from Mayor Linda Tyer, who was originally planned to speak but couple make it at the last minute because of a "time sensitive matter." Manship also highlighted the investments made in Tucker Park.

 

"This park has seen and will continue to receive significant and noteworthy improvements. Tucker Park recently received a new playground in the fall with the assistance of Roots Rising. Tree work has been done to open the park and let more light in. New benches will be installed next Tuesday and the new sign will be installed soon," Manship said.

 

After the rainy ceremony, DCR went back to work and planted a new tree in Tucker Park, honoring Arbor Day and continuing its efforts to reach the 2,400 goal.