Calling on borough residents to recommend possible locations

Usanewsonline.com desk: QUEENS, NY – In recognition of Climate Week NYC, an annual showcase of efforts to combat climate change, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. is launching a new crowdsourcing campaign encouraging Queens residents to recommend locations in their neighborhoods where they think trees should be planted.

The campaign is supported by a $100,000 allocation by Borough President Richards in Fiscal Year 2023 for tree planting across Queens.  The funding is part of the “Million More Trees” initiative, a joint effort announced by all five Borough Presidents earlier this year to have the City plant one million trees by 2030.

“Trees cool us, beautify our neighborhoods, and cleanse our environment by absorbing carbon and rainwater,” said Borough President RICHARDS. “That’s why I’m proud to have allocated $100,000 toward the planting of trees in Queens. But your help is vital in determining the best places to plant them. Your valuable suggestions will help inform process as we bring much-needed, life sustaining trees to communities across our borough.”

From now through Tuesday, October 18, residents can submit their suggestions for tree planting sites by filling out the form available here and at www.queensbp.org.

Recommended sites must be locations of empty lots or other neighborhood spots that are not paved over and are amenable to planting. Locations within existing parks are not being accepted at this time.

Submissions will be reviewed by the Queens Borough President’s Office and by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Preference will be given to underserved areas that lack shade and suffer from severe heat zone effects.

The Queens Borough President’s Office is also interested in hearing from businesses and other organizations that would consider partnering with this initiative by contributing funds for the purchase and planting of trees. The office is also looking for landscapers and arborists who are willing to participate in the project.

Anyone with questions about the crowdsourcing campaign or the Million More Trees initiative can reach out to the Queens Borough President’s Office by emailing [email protected] or calling 718-286-3000.