Planting trees is better with friends.
OPDC is seeking a critical mass of Oakland neighbors to sign up for a tree through TreeVitalize Pittsburgh. We need to meet a ten-tree minimum for TreeVitalize Pittsburgh to accept our application for the spring planting season.
Signing up is easy. Property owners can reach out to Sam Gallagher at sgallagher@opdc.org by December 1 to express their interest.
If our application is accepted, property owners can expect to receive a call from TreeVitalize Pittsburgh to explain the specifics and confirm that they still want the tree.
One of the biggest concerns that TreeVitalize Pittsburgh GIS Coordinator Brian Crooks hears is that people don’t want trees ripping up sidewalks or interfering with utility lines.
Brian Crooks
“That happens because people made poor decisions about the type of tree and location,” says Crooks. “Our trees are much less likely to cause hardscape issues or get hacked apart and made into goalposts.”
Crooks visits sites over the winter to prepare for the spring planting. “We assess every address where trees are requested so we can determine the appropriate species,” says Crooks.
Almost all trees are planted in the public right of way—very often, the grass strip between the sidewalk and the street. Trees can also be planted in front yards in a way that feels like part of the streetscape.
TreeVitalize Pittsburgh receives funding from the state to prep sites and buy trees, all at no cost to the adjacent property owner. OPDC then helps to organize a local event for volunteers to plant the trees around Oakland.
“Everyone loves planting a tree,” says Ned Brockmeyer, TreeVitalize Program Manager for the state. “The best part is the community involvement. That’s always what it takes.”
TreeVitalize requests that property owners or community groups commit to watering each tree for the first two seasons. “80% of the roots are left at the nursery,” says Crooks. “The tree needs to grow new roots. They’re not self-sufficient, so we have to put them where they are wanted.”
Join our application today to help us increase the tree canopy, decrease urban heat islands, and support green equity in Oakland.