First of a Million Trees Growing in the Bronx

First of a Million Trees Growing in the Bronx



October 2007

 Working together, Mayor 
Michael Bloomberg and New York Restoration Project founder Bette Midler 
planted a tree in the Bronx on Tuesday as the first of one million trees 
to be placed throughout the five boroughs in the next decade. 
The mayor and the entertainer-environmentalist planted a Carolina 
Silverbell tree in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, a neighborhood 
with too few trees and high rates of asthma. 
The action launches Million Trees NYC, an initiative of PlaNYC, the green 
New York program the mayor announced on Earth Day in April. 
"New York City has always been a place of big dreams and big ideas - and 
our administration has never been afraid to embrace them," said Mayor 
Bloomberg. "Over the next decade, with our friends at the New York 
Restoration Project, we are going to plant an unprecedented one million 
new trees across the city. I'm encouraging all New Yorkers to get 
involved." 
The million trees will expand New York City's urban forest by 20 percent. 
"I urge every New Yorker to dig in and be a part of Million Trees NYC," 
said Midler. "It's the responsibility of our city's corporations and 
foundations, developers, block associations, policymakers, home owners and 
renters - all New Yorkers - to create a million living, growing legacies 
that will enhance our beloved city and sustain the world for generations 
to come." 
The Parks Department will receive nearly $400 million over the next 10 
years to plant 600,000 public trees by reforesting 2,000 acres of existing 
parkland and lining New York City streets with trees.
       
Non-profit and community organizations, businesses, developers and 
everyday New Yorkers will plant the remaining 400,000 trees. 
To support the tree planting, stewardship and education programs, the New 
York Restoration Project and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City 
will seek the financial and in-kind support of individuals, corporations 
and foundations. The first donor has already stepped forward. Bloomberg 
and Midler announced a $1.5 million contribution from The Home Depot 
Foundation. 
Speaking at the planting event, Home Depot Foundation President Kelly 
Caffarelli challenged other corporations to support the tree planting 
initiative. 
"Planting a million trees will make a noticeable difference around New 
York City," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Trees make 
neighborhoods more livable and increase property values, cool and clean 
the air, shelter and feed wildlife. The comforting shade of trees soothes 
the senses and returns us to nature, rounding out the rough edges of urban 
life." 
The Department of City Planning has proposed zoning changes, now under 
public review, that would require the planting of street trees as a 
condition of all new developments, major enlargements and some conversions 
in all five boroughs. If approved, the changes would generate 10,000 new 
street trees each year. 
Each request for a street tree will trigger an evaluation of the suggested 
site by a Parks Department inspector who will check for electrical wires, 
underground utilities, light posts and building entrances. If it is 
possible to plant a tree in the site requested, a contractor will be 
assigned by the city to do the job. 
Million Trees NYC is one of 127 PlaNYC initiatives to make New York City 
more sustainable by 2030. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov or call 
311. 

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