PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded the City of Pittsfield $68,500 through the Cooling Corridors program. 

 

"Investing in green spaces is vital for the health and well-being of our residents," said Governor Maura Healey. "By planting trees and creating more parks, we ensure that everyone – especially those in environmental justice communities – has access to cleaner air and a better quality of life." 

 

This funding will enable the city to plant 40 native shade trees in a middle-income neighborhood that currently lacks sufficient street tree cover, located outside of the designated Greening the Gateway Cities area.

 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $1.3 million in grants from the Cooling Corridors program, which focuses on planting trees along popular walking routes and in environmental justice neighborhoods across Massachusetts. The funding, through the Executive O?ce of Energy and Environmental A?airs' (EEA) Division of Conservation Services, will go to thirteen municipalities and one nonpro?t organization to combat the rising heat residents are experiencing due to climate change. 

 

The program prioritizes planting trees in environmental justice (EJ) neighborhoods – communities that often face more environmental challenges - and along paths that connect people to important places like schools, healthcare providers, and senior centers. 

 

The Cooling Corridors grant program aims to create cooler and more enjoyable spaces for walking and gathering by planting trees that offer shade. In neighborhoods that experience high summer temperatures, establishing tree cover, including small groups of trees known as micro-forests, can significantly help reduce heat-related health issues, particularly in EJ populations that are often more vulnerable to extreme heat. In high-density urban areas, just five trees planted per acre can benefit 15 to 25 households. 

 

The grantees receiving these grants will also take care of the newly planted trees for two years to ensure they thrive. To enhance the cooling effects even further, some projects will include strategies like removing heat-absorbing surfaces and painting dark surfaces with lighter colors.