The City’s Neighborhood Canopy Program is getting national attention!

Danielle Lund, a reporter for The Municipal has reached out to the city regarding our Neighborhood Canopy Program.  Danielle is working on a feature article that will be published in their October 2024 edition, both online and in print.

Inquiry:  Danielle asked who came up with the program, what are its goals? What has the program accomplished so far? Do you think it has been successful? What pointers would you give other municipalities who are interested in replicating this?

Response: City Communications facilitated a phone interview between the reporter and the Senior Arborist, who explained that the idea for the Neighborhood Canopy Program originally came from City residents who wanted to beautify their neighborhoods. The Program’s goal is to increase biodiversity, promote walkability, and reduce the heat island effect. By the end of the year, the program will have resulted in the planting of 300 mature trees along rights of way in residential areas, with trees showing a 92% (very high) survival rate during the first year.

The Senior Arborist also informed the reporter that the program is successful and has garnered interest from municipalities across multiple states. If a municipality were to replicate this program, it is recommended that they clearly define their goals, budget, and rules up-front. This program has had a positive impact on Sarasota’s beauty and biodiversity, and it has proven a worthwhile and self-supporting (funded by tree mitigation fees and fines) initiative.

The reporter was also provided photos of trees planted through the program.

As a follow-up, City Manager Marlon Brown reached out to Lou Costa with “kudos” acknowledging the incredible effort that Lou, representing CCNA, had spearheading the project that was developed due to tree issues in Arlington Park.  Lou reports “that up to that point neither the city nor commissioners could solve the issue.  The plan we came up with when presented was passed 5-0 by the Commissioners to give us $50,000 and total control of the program for 2 years to get our idea off the ground.”  Lou added “an example of meaningful neighborhood input with results.”