Trees for Tomorrow (TfT) Commemorative Tree Program initiated by the Community Tree Council (CTC) is supported by the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (ACC), and is specifically designed for tree plantings recognizing a person, place, time or event. TfT is donor - supported consistent with the terms of the ACC Donor Acceptance Policy and tree canopy enhancement objectives suggested by the ACC Tree Management Ordinance. The program has been in place for over ten years with the intent of raising funds to underwrite future plantings. Two issues have impeded full implementation and constitute the current TfT goal.
- Provide the mechanism to convert monetary donations into tree plantings on public land, and provide income to maintain and sustain the Community Tree Council's tree planting program.
- Secure a countywide agreement recognizing TfT as a viable county-supported program thus opening public lands as potential tree planting sites.
Trees or Tomorrow is being specifically designed for the citizens of Athens-Clarke County in single or group plantings meeting general needs or site specific commemorative donor criteria.
- Trees for Tomorrow is being specifically designed as a donor-driven program including individuals, corporations and institutions.
- Participant donations may be specified and include:
- A memorial to a loved one
- An honor or recognition of special individual(s)
- A celebration of an event (1996 Olympic Grove) or date of significance (2000 Millennium Grove)
- A gift to that special someone who simply has everything
- Individually donated funds paid to ACC through the CTC will be used to purchase, plant, mulch and maintain trees in designated planting sites.
Many reasons for the program, some of which are:
- Involve the general public in the tree establishment process so they become stakeholders.
- Provide corporate and institutional organizations the opportunity to participate in a very popular and visible countywide activity
- Provide sites for tree plantings in groups or singly fulfilling the need for a designated commemorative tree procedure.
- Utilize available planting sites for optimal (site/species) restocking, a positive move toward the CTC's main mission of community forest sustainability.
- Provide a logical and planned strategy to reach the suggested overall canopy cover goal for county parks of 50%.
- Raise general awareness of the significance of trees in the community landscape
Current plantings completed at Athens Ben Epps Airport (Airport) on two sites.
- Plantings at the airport were made as part of a funded demonstration project under the Urban and Community Forest Grant Assistance Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission, and augmented by a generous gift offered through Woodland Growers of Winterville, Georgia.
- An airport landscape design and plan were presented and approved by the Athens Airport Authority in early February, 2007, and a Notice of Proposed Action was submitted to the ACC Manager in late February and passed through to Mayor and Commission where it was approved in March.
- Tree selection and purchasing was done next, with first delivery arriving on March 21, 2007. By early April all trees were delivered and planted in two grove sites at the airport, the entrance and pecan orchard and loop road.
- Other sites to be considered in the future include the many area public parks, small neighborhood "pocket parks" found throughout area subdivisions, various county campuses (library), and organizations.
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Ben Epps Airport planting
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The Trees for Tomorrow program has been in place (semi-active) for 10 years. The current grant-funded implementation enhancement project was launched September 21, 2006 with the initiation of the Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Grant, Trees for Tomorrow project.
- NOW! Participation is being encouraged at the Athens Ben Epps Airport to fill all the planned planting sites.
- Over 40 trees have been successfully planted and well watered at the airport showcasing a variety of species.
- Native species are featured in these plantings and range from large sized oak, maple, and ironwood, medium sized yellowwood and pecan, to small sized redbud and dogwood.
- Donors for the airport site are now being vigorously pursued.
- Countywide implementation has commenced for the 2008 planting season.
- We view the implementation of the TfT program as both an important citizen oriented initiative and as a strong marketing tool in the recruitment of sponsors to help underwrite overall CTC operations.
- Completion of the TfT project and the successful proof-of -concept demonstration at the Athens Ben Epps Airport is prerequisite to full TfT implementation.
- On May 11, 2007, an additional U&CF grant proposal Assessment of Planting Opportunities on Public Lands" (APOP) was submitted for consideration, and approved for funding in July 2007. The purpose of this project is to located and define potential tree planting opportunities on public lands to serve as receiver sites for trees underwritten by TfT donations. Each site will be mapped, evaluated and prioritized regarding its contribution and compatibility with existing land use, growing site potential to support trees and the availability of native species to populate the site. A specific high priority design and implementation plan will be developed and used as a model for the other sites. On July 17, 2007, APOP was approved for full funding.
- Repeat the process for the Clarke County School District, perhaps using the School Shade Tree program as a model.
- Strenuous marketing plans for donors will be essential.
- The 2008 planting season is the designated formal "kick-off" for the program.
- In keeping with the Athens-Clarke County Donations Acceptance Policy, once trees are planted on county property, they become the property of the county. While every effort will be made to manage the commemorative grove in the spirit it was created, it does not preclude future changes as county priorities may dictate.
- The minimum cost for participating in the program is $175.
- Contributions in greater amounts are always welcome as we seek to maintain and grow this important community oriented program, and to help underwrite other CTC initiatives.
- Honorees will be recognized on a custom Trees for Tomorrow -Airport plaque to be mounted in the Ben Epps North terminal reception area.
- More detail of donor and honoree will be listed in the "Tree Legacy Book" archived in the Heritage Room of the Athens Regional Library.
Show us your interest to participate by sending us your name, address (street, city, state, zip), phone and e-mail address via:
E-mail: information@athenstrees.com,
Mail: 350 Pound St. Athens, GA 30601
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