City Accepting Donations to Replace Trees Destroyed in May Storm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2011

For more information contact
Mick Renneisen, Director, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, (812) 349-3700or [renneism@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:renneism@bloomington.in.gov]

Bloomington, IN - With the extensive damage caused by the May 25 storms still visible across Bloomington, the City is taking steps to plan for the restoration of one of its greatest assets: its trees.

Mick Renneisen, the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department Director, said the long-term effects of the storm are still unknown, as even more trees may need to be removed because of damage they sustained from high winds and flying debris.

"Our focus now is to mitigate some of the losses we've sustained by putting together a strategy to replace our tree canopy as quickly as possible," Renneisen said.

City staff is developing plans to plant new trees in parks and in the urban forest. Those efforts have been boosted by community benefactors Steve and Connie Ferguson, who have committed to purchasing 100 three- to six-inch caliper (measurement of the diameter of the trunk) trees in the city, and another 150 treees on the Indiana University campus.

"Trees are the gifts we will leave for the future residents of Bloomington," Ferguson said. "We all benefit when we have an extensive and healthy streetscape, and when our community comes together to repair the damage of nature with contributions toward our future. This is the chance for everyone who lives in the city and enjoys its trees to help put new trees back on our city streets and in our city parks, where they belong."

Mayor Mark Kruzan said trees are an imortant part of Bloomington's community character.

"We know the people of Bloomington are just as dismayed by the loss of our tree canopy as we ar," Kruzan said. "But we were Indiana's first Tree City USA, and we have been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the past 27 years, for a reason. It's because citizens like Steve and Connie appreciate trees and all the benefits they provide."

The Bloomington Parks Foundation is accepting donations for the City's Urban Forestry Program through its Bloomington Tree Fund. The standard cost to plant a 1½" to 3" caliper tree is approximately $250. Anyone who wishes to donate in any amount to help plant trees lost in the storm, or to purchase an honorary or memorial tree, can do so via the [Bloomington Parks Foundation Web site|parkfoundation].

For more information about the Bloomington Tree Fund, or about making a donation, contact Barb Dunbar, Operations Coordinator, at 349-3498 or via e-mail at [dunbarb@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:dunbarb@bloomington.in.gov].

A planting plan for the fall season will be in place later this summer. Volunteers are encouraged to assist with replanting efforts and will be notified of opportunities to help.

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