Quick Facts
- Meeting dates: November 10 and 14, December 15, 2016.
- Number of signed attendees: 22
- Number of NAs represented: 10*
- Number of potential projects identified: 53.
- Types of potential projects identified: 3 (Tree Planting, Preservation, Issues/Hazards/Maintenance).
- Other possible activities identified: Technical Assistance, Education/Promotion.
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Between November and mid-December, the new nonprofit organization Trees for Goshen (TFG) held three input meetings with Goshen’s neighborhood associations (NAs). The city currently has a total of 15 NAs. TFG invited representatives from each NA; there were a total of 10 represented at the meetings.
The purpose of the meetings was twofold: first, to establish relationships with Goshen’s NAs and second, to identify potential forestry projects to collaborate on. A total of 53 potential projects were identified, or approximately 5 per represented NA. There were three main types of projects identified – tree planting, tree preservation, and issues/hazards/maintenance.
TFG’s current fundraising model is project-based. We seek to identify projects that will benefit their neighborhoods, and once identified and developed, raise funds to implement them. For tree planting projects, we are on a spring/fall schedule. For spring of 2017, we intend to install between 1 and 5 tree planting projects, although each project is contingent on the success of fundraising efforts. Please note that projects not fully funded may be installed partially – in other words, if the aim is to raise funds for 10 trees and only enough for five are raised, the five funded trees can still be planted. Projects not selected initially will remain in consideration for fall as well as subsequent years.
Over the coming weeks, TFG will seek to identify the highest priority projects from the list derived from the meetings and prepare them for installation in the spring. Due to the short time frame for spring, smaller, uncomplicated projects are the most feasible and therefore have the best chance of being selected. Additionally, there is a set of requirements/guidelines for projects to be eligible for fundraising:
- Maximum of 1 project per neighborhood for each time cycle (spring/fall)
- All projects must have formal approval of landowner(s)
- All projects must have a resident collaborator to assist with fundraising, installation, and monitoring. This may be someone other than the property owner(s)
- Tree planting projects must have a commitment to weekly watering for at least two growing seasons following installation. This is to help ensure that trees planted will survive and become fully established. Again, watering commitments may be made by people other than the property owner(s), so long as they have permission to do so.
The target timeline for spring 2017 projects is as follows:
- Mid-January: Finalize selected projects – ensure permissions, commitments, program and budget are in place.
- February-March: Fundraising.
- April – May: Installation
Thank you to everyone who attended our meetings. We are very grateful that you took the time out of your busy schedule to meet with us and discuss your community’s needs and desires in relationship to its urban forest. It’s our hope that by establishing a dialogue with Goshen’s residents we will empower you to take action to improve your neighborhoods with all of the benefits that trees bestow. We look forward to working with you in the future.
* Note: Neighborhood Associations represented at the meetings: Chamberlain, College Farm, East Lincoln Crossroads, East Goshen, Historic Southside, Pickwick Village, Historic Racemere Peninsula, Rieth Park, Terrace Park, West Goshen.
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